Facing Rangers at Ibrox was the craziest experience of my career and I've won the World Cup AND the Champions League
One former star was blown away by Ibrox during a Champions League clash way back in 2007
It's not uncommon for top players from around the continent to rave about the atmosphere generated at Ibrox or Celtic Park.
But one World Cup winner has described facing Rangers in their own backyard as the 'craziest experience' of his whole career.
Former midfield dynamo Sami Khedira had only recently cemented himself as a regular fixture for Stuttgart when the Bundesliga side travelled to Govan in September 2007 for the opening round of fixtures in the Champions League group stage.
The future Real Madrid and Juventus superstar played the first 77 minutes as his team fell to a 2-1 defeat, despite goal machine Mario Gomez giving them an early second half lead before Walter Smith's Gers hit back with a double courtesy of strikes from Charlie Adam and Jean-Claude Darcheville.
Khedira went onto form a key cog in the Germany team under Joachim Low that lifted the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 but insists the amazing experience he witnessed in that game has stuck with him.
In an interview with TikTok star Fiago, the 77-time Germany cap was asked about the best atmosphere he had ever played in and replied: "For me the most craziest experience ever was my first Champions League match. We played Glasgow Rangers and it was such an amazing experience."
And that view was unequivocally shared by Stuttgart and Germany teammate and future Bayern Munich striker Gomez, who was also blown away by what Ibrox had to offer: "That's a difficult one.
"I would say the Scottish fans like Celtic but to me I played against the Rangers and I will never forget this. They've been really strong."
Despite getting off to a winning start in the Champions League that season, Gers bowed out of the group stage after three consecutive defeats in their return clashes against Stuttgart, Barcelona and Lyon.
However, avoiding a fourth place finish in the group saw the Light Blues remain in Europe after Christmas by dropping into the UEFA Cup.
Smith's side pulled off fine triumphs against Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina over two legs before losing out to Zenit St Petersburg in the final in Manchester.
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