Memories of past Danish success can help get Gers back on track in Europe
Brondby’s visit to Ibrox on Thursday has sparked memories of how a victory over Danish opposition helped Rangers become the first British club to compete in the Champions League.
Stuart McCall was part of the Light Blues side that went on a remarkable 10-game unbeaten run in Europe in 1992-93.
They were squeezed out of a place in the Final by a point by Marseille, who beat AC Milan in the showpiece but were then stripped of their title due to a bribery scandal.
As their midfield star recalled, it all began with a success over, Lyngby, the first time the club had faced Danish opposition in Europe.
“It was the year they switched away from the old European
Cup format,” said McCall (inset), now working as assistant manager of Blackpool.
“We had two rounds to make it through to the group stage, and the Danes were first up for us.
“Listen, we had a terrific team then – we won the Treble that year – and we fancied ourselves against anyone.
“We beat Lyngby 2-0 at our place. I missed the game myself but remember big Mark Hateley and Peter Huistra getting the goals.
“So we went over there for the return, feeling pretty confident about ourselves. However, as is so often the case with Scandinavian opposition, they gave us a really tough game.
“We battled away, though, and hit them on counter late on with a nice goal from Ian Durrant.
“That was an important result because it got us through to play Leeds United in the so-called ‘Battle of Britain’. “That was great fun.
“There were more than 40,000 at Ibrox for the first leg. But from the noise they made, you would have thought it was over 100,000. The atmosphere was off the scale.
“We won that game 2-1, and the talk down south was all about how Leeds – who had Eric Cantona, Gary McAllister and Gordon Strachan – would turn it all around at Elland Road.
“Well, as everyone now knows, we beat them again, with Hateley and Ally McCoist getting the goals in another 2-1 victory.
“That got us through to the Champions League proper, and we did well in that with wins over CSKA Moscow and Club Brugge, plus a couple of draws against Marseille.
“It wasn’t quite enough as Marseille pipped us to top spot and a place in the Final.
“That became notorious as they got thrown out after they were found guilty of bribing opposition teams in France.”
Having already been knocked out of this season’s Champions League by Lyngby’s Swedish near-neighbours, Malmo, Steven Gerrard’s side do not have any more action in Europe’s premier club competition to aim for. Their opening Europa League defeats, at home to Lyon and away to Sparta Prague, have left them in desperate need of a win.
“It has to be three points against Brondby – and I think they will get them,” said McCall, who as well as starring as a player has also been a caretaker-manager of the Ibrox club.
“Danish football is on a huge high because the national team is doing so well.
“We saw it in the Euros, and again in our World Cup qualifying group. They are really strong.
“That will probably have a trickledown effect on their clubs in terms of confidence. But only a couple of Brondby players are actually in the national squad.
“Denmark is one of the great exporter of players, with loads of their guys playing in top leagues across Europe.
“So you are not going up against their very best. But we can expect the Brondby players to be big, athletic and have good technique.
“Rangers have plenty of quality in their own group, though, plus good European experience. So I think they should be fine.”