Methil won’t be a Sunday stroll, in Gary Mac’s eyes
Gary Mcallister insists there’s no chance of Rangers taking it easy in the Betfred Cup.
The Ibrox assistant accepts it is vital to start picking up honours and, at the same time, stop Celtic collecting their 10th trophy in three years.
Ra n g e r s w i l l ma k e a number of changes for today’s away trip to League One East Fife.
It’s a chance to give fringe p l a ye r s some much-needed game time, and rest others, ahead of a tough Europa League tie away at Legia Warsaw.
But Mcallister maintains the reshuffle shows the strength of the Rangers squad, and not any lack of enthusiasm for domestic cup competitions.
Mcallister believes winning the League Cup could kick-start a trophyladen period for the club.
He said: “People will say of the four competitions we’re in, it probably sits at the bottom, but not for us.
“It’s the one that comes first, it’s the first final.
“We want to try to get as far as we possibly can.
“We have a stronger squad in depth now, so there’s not that fear of making three or four changes.
“It’s a competition that’s decided early in the season.
“You don’t have to win many games to get to the end of it, and it could be the start of something. We have to look at it like that.
“When yo u’re associated with this club as a player, or on the coaching staff, it’s about winning. You’ve got to win – similar to when I was at Liverpool.
“This club is about winning and we have to try to get back to winning ways.”
Stopping Celtic get 10 trophies on the trot will also be important for Rangers supporters.
Mcallister said: “Absolutely, that’s a fact.
“We’re in a competition to try to win things and that’s on our minds. That’s what we’re judged on.”
Domestic honours are clearly uppermost in the minds of those at Rangers.
European football, however, is most certainly not being put to one side.
Mcallister smiles at conspiracy theories saying a Europa League exit at the hands of Legia Warsaw – and therefore fewer games – would help strengthen their title bid.
He we n t on: “My feeling with that is that last s e a s o n’s games against Rapid Vienna, Villarreal and Spartak were outstanding.
“I’ve played at good stadiums under the lights and Ibrox is right up there, so we want to do well in this competition.
“I don’t know if we’ve got the credit we deserve for beating a Midtjylland side I think are good.
“We dispatched them comfortably and they’ve not taken that well.
“Speaking to their guys afterwards, I don’t think they expected our levels.
“Being in Europe raises the profile of this club again.”