STEADY PROGRES
Wallace desperate to break Euro losing streak but insists Luxembourg opponents are not the height of his ambitions
Lee Wallace came to Rangers six years ago to experience life at the top in Europe.
Despite the fact he’s set to play only his third tie since – something he admits is a massive void on his CV – the Ibrox skipper is still not satisfied they’re back to where they should be.
And until he’s walking out to the Champions League theme tune, as he did on his debut when Gers lost 1-0 to Swedish opposition, he won’t believe their “journey” is complete.
The 29-year-old is about to set off on his 14th season in senior football but still only has three European campaigns to his name having played his part in five ties involving Rangers and Hearts, losing all five.
He’s well aware that has to improve in a hurry as Pedro Caixinha’s side prepare to entertain Luxembourg’s Progres Niederkorn in the first leg of their Europa League first qualifying round clash in four days’ time.
Wallace said: “My debut was a Champions League qualifier, which was really special to me. The result against Malmo didn’t go to plan but I enjoyed the whole process – the build-up, playing in the game itself.
“We were the reigning champions at the time and trying to get into the groups. That’s one of the reasons I came to the club and yeah, it probably has been a void. I wanted to try to continue the European campaigns. I don’t think anyone in the world could have foreseen what was to happen six months later, which has obviously played a part in our not being involved in European football.
“So I’m looking forward to having a taste of it again next week.”
Rangers’ third-place finish behind Celtic and Aberdeen last season earned them that Europa spot.
But Wallace refuses to settle for it as an achievement.
The left-back said: “A phrase I would always use on the journey was we wanted to get Rangers back to where we belong.
“In terms of league status, of course we have managed to do that.
“But where we belong is at the top of the Scottish league and getting to the Champions League group stage. That is where the club was before. We realise that is going to take a lot of hard work and take time but I don’t think we can say we are back to where we belong in terms of the prestige of the tournaments I mentioned or where we need to be domestically.
“We are working hard to do that. There has been progress since the manager came in at the tail end of last season and we are going to be working hard to make sure we can finally say that one day we are where we want to be.”
Mention his own personal record in Europe and it brings a wince.
Wallace played and lost to AEK Athens in the third qualifying round of the Champions League for Hearts in 2006 then suffered at the hands of Sparta Prague as the Jambos fell at the first hurdle after parachuting into the Europa League. Three years later he played in a disastrous 4-0 firstleg defeat to Dynamo Zagreb in the Europa play-offs then missed the 2-0 win in the Tynecastle return.
And a 1-1 draw in Sweden followed his Rangers bow before Maribor sent them out of the Europa League a few weeks later.
He said: “It hasn’t been great, has it?
“I try to take the positives from my first European experiences with Rangers but they weren’t great experiences.
“I came off injured against Maribor, I remember that okay.
“They were a tough opponent, as were Malmo in the previous game. I remember all the stuff with fans not being able to go to the away game and the two sending-offs. But I still
I’m just glad to put the shirt back on
can’t wait to get going and we’ll be looking to do well this week. There is no doubt about that.
“And yes, it’s tough to get to the groups – the stats will tell you how hard it is to get through all four qualifying rounds but we’re not going to let that hold us back.
“We will be realistic but in any competition we want to do as best we can and this isn’t going to differ.”
Wallace only managed two games under new boss Caixinha before injury ended his season in April.
But after stomach surgery he’s fit and ready to go – and the absence of a new left-back among the raft of recruits the Portuguese coach has brought in bodes well for his presence in a new-look side.
He said: “I’m just glad to put the shirt back on. I didn’t want to miss the last six or seven games of the season but I’m delighted I got the procedure done.
“It was a tear in my oblique – they call it a sportsman’s hernia and it had been lingering for a while. I definitely feel stronger now.
“And it did give me a bit of time to reflect and watch from the stand. Now I’lI get to build up some training momentum, which I didn’t get initially with the manager.
“I worked closely with him, though, and was up to speed with the players as well in terms of the training and how he wanted to try to play, the new demands he was going to put on us.
“I still learnt a hell of a lot in that period even though I didn’t play an awful lot of football.
“And I suppose no new left-back could be seen as a show of faith – but I know even if one was to come in it can only add competition.
“That’s great and is something we are probably going to have in a lot of areas this season. Also Lee Hodson is still here and Myles Beerman stepped in very well last season.
“I don’t know many guys his age who managed to have two Old Firm experiences at the National Stadium and at his home stadium in a short period. For his learning and development it was crucial – he did great. So competition still exists, which we’re going to need if we want to be better moving forward.”