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The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Rangers told to handle Athens heat and avoid Euro fate of Class of '94
But the Hall of Fame member can still recall how AEK Athens eased to a comfortable 2-0 victory against Walter Smith's team in a qualifying match in the Nikos Goumas Stadium back in 1994 and then edged to a 1-0 triumph away a fortnight later. That devastating and financially costly 3-0 aggregate reverse was suffered just months after Rangers had come within a whisker of reaching the final of Europe's elite club competition after going undefeated in all 10 of their matches. Read more: Durrant is confident that James Tavernier and his team mates will be able to handle the stifling heat in Greece next week – but feels the captain and other experienced members of the team will need to show they are unfazed by the hostile atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium. 'The manager will find out a lot about his players, about how they can handle that environment, that arena,' he said. 'Not just the heat, but the massive crowd. It'll be volatile. 'How will they handle it? He'll find a lot about these players, especially if he goes with the young ones again and plays them. We'll be finding out things in every game. But in that sort of environment, I think you'll find out a lot more. (Image: Promotional) 'We had a good, experienced team in the 1992/93 season. It should have been, could have been. Marseille were a phenomenal team, but we went toe to toe with them. It just shows you. But, again, eventually we fell at the last hurdle. 'I think when you go through that team, the experience we had against some really good sides, but in terms of the Marseille team, they were a phenomenal team. But you go toe to toe with them, it just shows you. 'But your Butlands, Taverniers, even your Rothwells, who's played at a great level, Raskins, and whoever plays up front, the spine of your team, they'll be called upon. They'll need to get regrouping, make sure everybody can handle it. Read more: 'Panathinaikos will be at Rangers from the first minute because they'll want to make it a game where they feel uncomfortable. It's how you handle it and how you react to things like that.' Looking back on his outing to Athens back in 1994, Durrant added, 'We shot ourselves in the foot with the goal we gave away. The gaffer was trying to get new players in at that time and it never clicked so early. Athens were better than us, simple as. Over the two legs, they were far better than us. 'It was very warm, but we'd done a pre-season. We used to do a pre-season in Italy. We sort of acclimatised to it. On the night, it doesn't really matter about the heat because you can get as much water in as you can. You've just got to make sure you perform over two legs. Against AEK we were nowhere near it.' Light Blues legend Ian Durrant was speaking as he promoted RYDC's Big Blue Jackpot, a new Rangers Lotto prize for supporters who can win guaranteed end-of-month jackpots of at least £12,000 and £15,000 from August. Full details at
STV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
Durrant: Best is yet to come from Curtis after Champions League heroics
Rangers legend Ian Durrant believes the world is Findlay Curtis' oyster after his midweek Champions League heroics, but insists it will be a rocky road ahead to reach the top. The teenager scored the opener as the Ibrox side secured a 2-0 first-leg victory over Panathinaikos on Tuesday night. Durrant is excited about what the future holds for the up-and-coming starlet who he says is 'living the dream', but has warned him that there will be ups and downs along the way. The 58-year-old is speaking from experience, as he was the same as Curtis is now when he made his debut back in 1985. He would go on to win six league titles, three Scottish Cups, and four League Cups, writing his name into Rangers folklore as part of their nine-in-a-row winning side under Walter Smith. And he is hoping the new kid on the block can follow a similar path. He said: 'You see, young boys like Findlay, who is the flavour of the month just now, and he came through the youth setup. 'On Tuesday, the game was stalling a wee bit, and Findlay took it by the scruff of the neck. He is living the dream just now, and long may it continue. RYDC 'He has a long way ahead, and there will be a lot of hard games coming up, but he showed the other night what he can produce with a moment of magic to put Rangers 1-0 up, and they just kicked on from there. 'It's early days for him yet, he obviously has the ideal opportunity working with a new vibrant young manager who believes in him and has given him the platform to go and perform. 'Now Findlay will know, and the manager and coaches will know, that there is a lot of hard work ahead, he is a young boy, but when you are at Ibrox, or any big team now, you have to learn quickly. 'There will be ups and downs, that's the nature of the beast, that's football, but just now he is living the dream and enjoying it. 'Only time will tell what he will achieve. It's always a rocky road in football. Sometimes, the manager might take him out when he feels he should be playing, but the manager will work with him every day, along with the coaches, and they will see his development. 'Just now, he is ticking every box; he's scored in the Champions League qualifiers, so he is living the dream. And to see one of your own coming through is always a boost for the club and the supporters. 'He'll be as high as a kite just now, and it will de down to him and the manager to make sure he is ready for the upcoming tests.' Durrant was speaking on Thursday as he promoted the Rangers Youth Development Company's (RYDC's) Big Blue Jackpot, a new Rangers Lotto prize for supporters who can win guaranteed end-of-month jackpots of at least £12,000 and £15,000 from August. He hailed the impact the organisation has made and the importance of bringing young players through the ranks. He said: 'The RYDC have donated over £12m to the club, which is a fantastic donation in anybody's eyes, and long may it continue. 'Every club wants to see their own coming through, and they are giving them the ideal opportunity with the money they donate.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
