Kev hopes current Gers don’t experience Old Firm omission
Two games down, at least another 42 to go in Steven Gerrard’s first season as Rangers manager. With FK Shkupi disposed of in the Europa League, next up are NK Osijek of Croatia. Gerrard’s signings, and the players he inherited, are still jockeying for position in their boss’s thoughts for the long campaign ahead.
Kevin Muscat hopes that none of them experience what he had to endure during his one and only season at Ibrox.
The 44-year-old, currently carving out a successful career in management with Melbourne Victory in Australia’s A-league, prefers to look forward rather than dwell on the past.
However, the Australian – who was part of Alex Mcleish’s Rangers side that won the Treble in the 2002/03 season – admits to some regret that he never got to experience an Old Firm game. Muscat found himself frozen out of the team for the crucial clashes by current Scotland boss Mcleish, who had doubts about his temperament in the fiery fixture.
“I loved every minute at Rangers and my timing was pretty good,” Muscat said.
“I grew up with Craig Moore, and to end up at the same club as him was a career highlight. So was winning three trophies. “Back then, there was an embarrassment of riches at Rangers, and it was certainly a good era at the football club.
“Hopefully, with the appointment of Steven Gerrard, there are some positive days to come again.
“The only regret is I missed out on playing in all the Old Firm games.
“I think before the first derby that came along that season, I had played a number of games in succession prior to it.
“We had been winning the majority of those games. So when I was left out, I can recall being deeply annoyed.
“Alex had to make his decisions and, at the time, I got frustrated. “But being a manager now, I respect that he was making the decisions that he thought were best for the team.
“We went on to win all the trophies that year, so Alex’s decisions were vindicated.
“I would have loved to have played in one of the games, but it wasn’t to be.”
Seven yellow cards in 30 appearances in Light Blue adds weight to Mcleish’s approach, and Muscat certainly had a fearsome reputation as a player during spells with Crystal Palace, Wolves, Millwall and Melbourne Victory.
But it is as a manager that Muscat is now making his mark on the game, and he is already one of Australia’s most successful coaches. He has been in charge of Melbourne Victory since 2013 and led the club to this year’s A-league Championship, where the top six sides in the league battle it out in an end of season knock-out competition to be crowned champions.
“This is my fifth year as manager, and we’ve won the Championship twice and the league once,” said Muscat.
“We won this year’s grand final from fourth in the table and that had never been done in the A-league since it started. To be able to do that was an unbelievable feat.”
Muscat’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed, with the Australian having twice being linked to vacancies at Rangers in recent years.
And Muscat, who never shirked from a challenge while playing, admits the lure of Europe would be hard to resist if the right offer came in.
Muscat said: “Without doubt, the Rangers job would interest me in the future.
“But now is the time for getting behind the new manager. “I’ve no doubt Steven Gerrard has taken on the job on the understanding that it’s going to be difficult.
“But I always say that if it’s easy, then nobody will want to do it because everyone wants to challenge themselves.
“As a Rangers supporter, I wish Steven well and a lot of success.
“Managing in Europe is definitely something that interests me at some point.
“I want to get the opportunity to challenge myself. More importantly, I know I have something to offer.” n
Steven Gerrard has been warned Rangers will be facing the Nigerian version of Romelu Lukaku when they face Croatian cracks, NK Osijek, this week.
The Ibrox side travel to the Balkan country for a tricky first leg, second qualifying round tie, having disposed of Macedonian opposition, FK Shkupi, in midweek.
Osijek defeated PSV Eindhoven home and away last season, and have strengthened further in the summer with the addition of powerful hitman, Ezekiel Henty.
Former AC Milan striker Henty has already been likened to Manchester United striker Lukaku by the Croatian media for his battering-ram style and eye for goal.
And Nigerian forward Henty – who has also played for Lokomotiv Moscow, Perugia in Italy and Hungarian outfit, Videoton, can’t wait to face Rangers.
He said: “I’ve heard the comparisons with Lukaku and I take it as a massive compliment.
“I hope one day to emulate him in his career, and be as good as him.
“I was happy for us to get through the first qualifier against Petrocub, and I think I gave the fans a taste of what I can do.
“I think they were happy with my performance, even though I didn’t get on the scoresheet.
“I believe we have a good side here, and we play better against big teams. “So Rangers will be ideal for us. “Rangers are clearly a big club who will be far better than our opponents in the first round. And, of course, they have a very famous coach.
“We are aware of the size of the club and their strengths.
“But I am not sure they will have experienced a place like our City Garden Stadium.
“Our passionate fans will cheer us on, and I think we can take a first leg lead to Scotland.”