Barry: Bayer boss must have been drunk to say I was worth more than Alan Shearer after our great victory
MICHAEL GANNON
BARRY FERGUSON reckons Rangers fans could be raising a glass to more Euro glory after thinking the Bayer Leverkusen boss was on the sauce the last time they met.
The former Ibrox skipper made his name as a kid when Rangers left the Bundesliga outfit drowning their sorrows after a sensational victory in the UEFA Cup in 1998.
Gers were held to a 1-1 draw in the Glasgow return but sunk the Germans 2-1 in the first leg when Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Jonatan Johansson had the Scots fizzing and Leverkusen only managed a late consolation.
Ferguson was the star of the show, brilliantly skinning his man to tee up the second goal, with Bayer boss Christoph Daum branding the 20-year-old midfielder as one of the best prospects in Europe.
He even claimed Fergie was worth more than the record £15million fee Newcastle paid for Alan Shearer.
The teams have been drawn out of the hat to meet in the Europa League last 16 this term and it stirred up memories for the club legend, who is convinced his former side could be toasting a repeat success against the German outfit.
Ferguson told Record Sport: “It’s always nice as a player to get plaudits but I must admit when Daum came out with that one I thought he must have been on those big steins you get in Germany – those massive beers with about three pints in one glass!
“It was a big night in terms of my career. Dick Advocaat put his faith in me and it really cemented my place in the side,
“I kicked on from there and got my first Scotland cap not long afterwards. So it was a special night.”
Ferguson was just a kid but had no fear going to Germany – which is exactly the attitude he believes will be key 22 years on.
He said: “I was a Scottish lad doing all right
BARRY FERGUSON
m.gannon@dailyrecord.co.uk and the way I saw it was not to be overawed by these guys but to go and see if I could compete.
“When you’re young you have no fear but I went out and embraced it. Sure, there was respect – there had to be – and you’re aware you are up against top-class opposition.
“But go and show you can handle those occasions. It was great for me at that young age to have a bit of pressure. I just went for it and tried to enjoy the moment.
“It was a great night. They had some great players in their side. I remember the likes of Ze Roberto and Emerson in the middle, who played for Brazil, Carsten Ramelow and a couple of big names from Croatia.
“A lot of that group ended up making the Champions League Final a few years later, so we were really up against it. I have no doubt they fully expected to turn us over but we played really well in the first leg.
“We were superb that night. I know their manager said nice things about me but it wasn’t about an individual performance. It was a top display to a man.
“It was a time when Dick was really putting his own stamp on things and we managed to get some great results. Those were my memories of playing in Europe – here’s my chance to test myself against the best.
“I thrived on it and we managed to pull off some great results over the years.
“That’s the mentality the current Rangers players need to have when they face Leverkusen and you never know what could happen.”
Ferguson reckons Steven Gerrard’s men will be rank outsiders after the Germans thumped former Ibrox victims Porto over two legs in the last round and recently defeated Borussia Dortmund.
But Ferguson has heard it all before and is convinced anything is possible for Gerrard’s Euro specialists.
He said: “Leverkusen are going strong in the Bundesliga and are a very good side.
“You know they will be physical and fit, with a lot of technical players.
“These are the ties you want. There are no bad teams in the last 16 in Europe but it’s brilliant to be there.
“I was really impressed with Rangers the other night. The set-up was bang on and they were right up for it.
“They defended as though their lives depended on it and that’s what will be needed against Leverkusen.”