ANY PORTO IN A STORM
Eck is hoping Gerrard and Gers can emulate his class of 2005
ALEX McLEISH delivered his finest managerial masterclass when Rangers prospered in Porto against all odds.
He would settle for the same outcome for his old side under Steven Gerrard as the Light Blues bid to bolster their Europa League chances in their toughest game of the tournament so far.
Three defeats in 24 European games is a record over the last 15 months on which Gerrard can reflect with some pride.
Significantly perhaps, all his losses have come on the road in the group stage campaign, against Spartak Moscow, Rapid Vienna and Young Boys of Bern.
Rangers face their biggest European challenge in Gerrard’s short reign tomorrow night when they take on the fabled Portuguese in the Estadio Do Dragao.
Porto lost out to Benfica for the league title last season and ended the season trophyless, bar their season-opening Super Cup.
But Sergio Conceicao’s side still
made it to the quarter-final of the Champions League, defeated at the knockout stages for the second successive season by Liverpool.
The scale of the task facing Rangers? Last season, Porto’s Euro campaign was their eighth successive in the Champions League and in qualifying for the group stage for the 23rd time they share a record with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
However, a surprise defeat on away goals after a 3-3 draw with Russians Krasnodar in the third qualifying round of the Champions League this summer may offer Rangers some hope, along with their recent 2-0 loss at Feyenoord.
The experience of McLeish nine years ago also gives food for thought as an injury-ravaged Rangers side snatched a 1-1 draw in the Dragao and went on to qualify for the last
16 of the Champions League at the expense of the Portuguese and Artmedia Bratislava. McLeish, the first manager to lead a Scottish club to the knockout stages, said: “We were staring into the abyss and came out with an amazing result.
“We had a real skeleton crew of a squad because we had a load of injuries that season and guys like big Dado Prso were missing.
“I had to bring a young boy, Ross McCormack, off the bench to get us the equaliser to take us towards the Champions League last 16.
“Porto were a hell of a good side and we weren’t given a prayer.
“We had a very inexperienced side, a lot of players that probably wouldn’t have played if the first selections had been available, but they did the club proud.
“We had to hang on by the skin of our teeth but you need to do that sometimes. It was certainly a night we will never forget.
“It was a great night for my managerial career in terms of a learning experience. That was probably one of my best nights in terms of tactics.”
Rangers have played four group stage away games under Gerrard and have yet to win, shipping goals in the first quarter of two of those games, against Villarreal and Spartak Moscow.
They rallied to secure a 2-2 draw in Spain after conceding in the first minute, but slapstick defending cost them a 4-3 defeat in Russia.
In the other two games, against Rapid and Young Boys, Rangers have conceded late goals and paid a hefty cost and it remains to be seen if a display free of lapses in focus for 90 minutes is beyond them at this stage.
McLeish said: “A 1-1 draw wouldn’t be the worst result this time around and they seem to be
We hung on by the skin of our teeth but you have to do that sometimes. It was night we’ll certainly never forget McLEISH
having a good run in Europe. They are comfortable on this stage, even though they lost against Young Boys.
“That was a wee setback for them and Porto is not an easy place to visit. They will be smarting from the fact they are not in the Champions League this year and have a bit of rebuilding to do as well.
“Steven has a great record at this level. He is a smart guy who has learned a lot throughout his career as a player, as well as from his coaches.
“He has gathered all that experience and is using it well tactically.
“It is difficult because everyone expects you, as Rangers, to go into the midweek game and play in the same
manner you show against a Premiership side in Scotland but you can’t do that.”
Rangers have played Portuguese opposition 12 times in Europe and won seven, losing three, with the most memorable fixtures the games against Sporting Lisbon in the season they won the Cup Winners’ Cup, as well as in 2008 when they marched to the final of the UEFA Cup. Gerrard is attempting to re-establish the Light Blues on the continent after years of financial turmoil.
And McLeish added: “Steven has rebuilt the reputation in Europe because Rangers are a huge name that people talk about wherever you go. It is only Rangers and Celtic.
“We regret not having a league in which more teams are competing for the title but even in England it is becoming difficult for all but the top six clubs.
“Steven knows what it takes to win in Europe. He will do everything to ensure Rangers get positive results in Europe again.”