It was sore to watch Celtic in Euro draw ...that used to be us LEE MCCULLOCH vows gers WILL return To ELITE
TALKING RANGERS Veteran suffered agonies
honest it is good to see Celtic getting in there and actually doing well in Europe.
“Not having Rangers involved in European competition for three seasons will be worrying, in time, for the co-efficient.
“I certainly hope we can get back to the Champions league in time. As a fan, firstly you want to see them back up there with the best and I think that, through time, we will get there.”
A more immediate objective for McCulloch is helping Rangers improve their worrying away form.
Ally McCoist’s side has only triumphed in one of their fixtures on the road in the regulation 90 minutes this season –
MLEE McCulloCh felt a pang of envy this week when Celtic went into the Champions league draw along with the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
Taking on the cream of the continent’s clubs was once something the Rangers stalwart looked forward to on a regular basis.
Now he is plying his trade in the Irn-Bru Third Division, with no prospect of playing European football for another three years at least.
however, McCulloch is convinced the Ibrox club will return to the star-studded competition eventually and remains determined to help them get there.
The utility man, who took his tally for the 2012/13 campaign to six with a double against Falkirk on Thursday night, revealed he is pleased the Parkhead club have made it into the group stages.
For the success of Neil lennon’s team may make it easier for their city rivals to qualify for the Champions league in future.
“I watched the draw before the Falkirk game and it was a wee bit of a sore one,” he admitted. “obviously, you think: ‘That used to be us!’ It’s not us now.
“But to be fair to Celtic they are in there now and they deserve it. It’s good because it helps the Scottish co-efficient as well.
“We can’t chip in on that front for a wee while, but to be they beat Falkirk 1-0 in a Ramsdens Cup game at Westfield last week. The light Blues have drawn with Peterhead and Berwick Rangers in the league and needed extra time to overcome Brechin City in their opening outing at the start of last month. cCulloCh, who pledged his future to his boyhood heroes in the summer when many of his team mates chose to leave, has been distraught at their performances and results away from home.
however, he feels they reacted positively to their latest disappointment at Shielfield Park and can start to pick up points on the road soon.
‘ Celtic are in there now and they deserve it and it helps Scottish co-efficient
“Everybody knows our home form has been half decent this season, it is our away form that has to pick up,” he admitted.
“We are all grounded boys in the dressing room, we have all played at grounds like Shielfield Park before.
“I don’t think there is anything up with the grounds. We don’t really have a reason, we just weren’t good enough on Sunday, that is it really.
“But after the weekend it was good to put on a decent performance in the league Cup and get through to the next round.
“This weekend’s game is now big for us because we’re going into the international break. I think three points and a good performance would set us up nicely.
“We have had a bit of a shaky start this season so obviously the more points we can get the better until we start hitting top form.”
McCulloCh feels the glut of new arrivals at Rangers have settled in well and refused to use that as an excuse for the below-par displays away from Ibrox.
“You’ve got to try and make any boys who come in who don’t speak English as welcome as possible,” he agreed.
“They can see for themselves what a big club it is and how hard it can be to play when the pressure is on so much. But I wouldn’t say team spirit is a problem or anything like that, it is just really poor performances away from home.
“To be playing at a club like Rangers sometimes you need time to settle in. Some guys come in and hit the ground running.
“It is definitely a test of character. But I think the boys have settled in not badly and hopefully they can kick on.
“I don’t know what it is. I just hope it changes soon. It was brilliant that we put in a good performance against Falkirk. Personally, I was delighted to get two goals.”
The brace against the Bairns took McCulloch’s career total to 99 and he is hoping to break through the magic 100 mark soon.
he laughed: “I enjoy playing up front, but I know I’m not going to get a barrowload of goals, like a McCoist or a Boyd.”