FULL STEAM AHEAD

McAllister is delighted by the direction of travel at Rangers and is relishing one final 4,600-mile trip in the Europa League qualifying campaign

GARY McALLISTER has watched how a winding journey through Macedonia, Croatia and Slovenia has tightened the togetherness of this revamped Rangers squad.

Now it is time for one more unified push. A 4,600-mile round trip to Russia represents an almighty last leg, but McAllister draws motivation from sight of the desired destination. Ever since the first ball was kicked against FK Shkupi back on July 12, this has been about putting Ibrox back on the map of exciting European venues.

The Rangers assistant manager believes overcoming FC Ufa to secure a place in the Europa League group stage could do just that. It may be UEFA’s secondary competition, but there is no shortage of big names lying in wait.

Steven Gerrard’s men are destined for pot four if they qualify, opening the way to a potential section containing Chelsea, AC Milan and RB Leipzig. Or perhaps Arsenal, Marseille and Real Betis. Or maybe Sevilla, Sporting Lisbon and Spartak Moscow.

Eight years on from their last participation in the Champions League, being back in that kind of company would be the clearest sign yet of the Ibrox club’s renaissance.

‘That is where the hunger and desire lies because, if we do manage to make it, there are some fantastic teams in this competition,’ insisted McAllister.

‘It is a tough competition to do well in because of the quality of the teams we could be up against, but it puts Rangers back on the map.

‘We all associate Rangers — and I hope that is why players come to play here — with big games under the floodlights at Ibrox against one of the big clubs from Serie A or La Liga.’

First, though, it is about a lesserknown foe from the Russian Premier League. FC Ufa arrive in Glasgow for tomorrow’s play-off first leg on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Dinamo Moscow.

Unbeaten in nine games under Gerrard, Rangers will be confident but not complacent. A record of three consecutive away clean sheets has required fortitude — never more so than during last week’s stalemate in Maribor.

Travelling and succeeding together has delivered a spin-off in terms of morale. And McAllister hopes that spirit can ultimately see them through the challenge of visiting Ufa just three days before the season’s first Old Firm clash at Celtic Park.

‘I think it is massively important,’ he said of the unity being forged. ‘I have been fortunate enough to have good runs in UEFA tournaments and the objective is purely to get through to the next round in the early stages before it goes to a league format.

‘Nobody ever remembers some performances that are maybe not that good because you have just got to grind and there are periods of the game you have to see out.

‘One of the biggest examples was speaking to people who have won at European level. Yes, they remember semi-finals and finals and the performances, but nobody remembers the early rounds when they went behind the old Iron Curtain and ground out results.

‘It was a togetherness with everybody and I think we have seen that in all the games away from home. There have been periods of the matches where we have been under the cosh and had some really good tackles and blocks and that is very encouraging for the manager.’

These displays have also quelled doubts about Gerrard’s inexperience as a top-level coach. When his appointment was announced back in May, it was viewed as a ‘gamble’ in some quarters. McAllister, though, insists he never harboured any concern about the 38-year-old’s credentials.

‘I wasn’t quick to push people back when that question arose and the fact was he didn’t have experience of managing at this level,’ said the 53-year-old, who played alongside Gerrard for Liverpool. ‘But you have to remember he was a leader for club and country for a long time and basically carried Liverpool for loads of seasons.

‘He managed on the pitch. That is at the coalface and where you really manage, when you are on the pitch. That will be with him forever and you can’t take away the fact he captained Liverpool for many years, captained his country and played for them over 100 times. Managing people and leading is something he has done and that is just fact.’

Gerrard and McAllister have worked together to make the alterations they felt were required. While personnel and squad mentality were two obvious boxes to tick, they have also addressed the facilities to create a fresher training ground for a new era.

‘The dressing room and the canteen are the two places where the players spend the most time and we want an environment where the players want to be here,’ said McAllister.

‘We don’t want them to come and train and jump in their car and go away for lunch or whatever they do. We want them to spend time here. The food has been elevated, the canteen has been completely refurbed, the dressing room as well.

‘Quality is something you associate with Rangers. Overall, I have really enjoyed it so far. The main thing has been the way the players have adapted to it and a lot of changes in training methods, mentality, fitness levels and the pre-season training.

‘I think there was an acceptance that their fitness had to jump up and it has. I can’t remember one dissenting voice.’