Alex McLeish knows what it’s like to take Rangers into uncharted territory in European competition.
The legendary former Rangers manager remains the only Ibrox gaffer to ever take a Rangers team into the knockout stages of the Champions League back in 05/06.
Speaking ahead of Rangers’ Europa League quarter final clash with Athletic Club de Bilbao, Alex McLeish has hailed Barry Ferguson for getting one over on Jose Mourinho.
But with the La Liga outfit being hounded in the Spanish press for their performance v 10-man Rangers at Ibrox, the 66-year-old has warned the Gers to expect a Europa League response in Bilbao.
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Alex McLeish fires Athletic Club warning to Rangers ahead of Europa League showdown
Alex McLeish has hailed his former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson for overcoming Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahce in the Europa League round of 16.
But the former Ibrox gaffer has warned Rangers that they face an even bigger task to go out and repeat the feat in Spain against Athletic Club.
Rangers put in a resolute display v Athletic Club in the 0-0 draw at Ibrox and McLeish has warned that they’ll have to do the same to halt an Athletic Club side who’ll come out ‘all guns blazing’.
“European competition has been incredible,” McLeish said. “Beating Jose Mourinho and putting one on him, that was exceptional. And now what the team did last week just shows what they have in their lockers.
“It’s going to be a cauldron. We know that they were smarting. I think they’ve been criticised by the Spanish press, who were saying it wasn’t a great performance.
“But Rangers nullified their strengths and they have to go and do that in Bilbao. I think it’ll be all guns blazing from Athletic.”
Do stats back-up Alex McLeish’s European Rangers ‘relief’ claims?
Alex McLeish reckons that European football comes as a ‘relief’ to the much-criticised Rangers team.
The Aberdeen legend pointed to the Gers’ abysmal domestic form and suggested that the club’s misfiring players relish the distraction of playing in the continent.
It comes after Rangers drew 2-2 with Aberdeen at Pittodrie with Celtic now within one point of a fourth Scottish Premiership title in a row.
But whilst Rangers have punched above their weight this season, technically the Europa League is the competition the Ibrox club have the lowest win rate in this season.
| Scottish Premiership (W-D-L) | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Europa League | |
| Record | 33 games (20-6-7) | Two games (1-0-1) | Four games (3-1-0) | 11 games (5-3-3) |
| Goals for/goals against (GD) | 68/35 (33) | 5/1 (+4) | 10/4 (+6) | 19/13 (+7) |
| Win percentage | 61% | 50% | 75% | 45% |
“Maybe it seems like a relief for some of the players when they go into Europe,” he said.
“They seem to express themselves a lot more than they have done in the domestic league.
“But I guess when you look at the European games, they’ve been open. Mourinho’s team was open, Rangers were attacking and there was space for the opposition although Barry got them working very hard on their recoveries. Getting back when losing possession has been very good and a good feature of his good work.”
