BEALE NEEDS A BOLT FROM THE BLUE
Rangers manager requires a Konterman moment to change Old Firm script, says McLeish
WHEN Bert Konterman’s name boomed from the Tannoy, the Celtic supporters cheered in sarcasm.
The mocking stopped when the much-maligned Dutchman smashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net from 25 yards to secure Alex McLeish his first Old Firm triumph as Rangers manager.
Heroism can stem from unlikely places. Few more unlikely then the central defender’s rocket in the CIS Cup semi-final of 2002.
Winless after three meetings with Celtic, current Ibrox boss Michael Beale heads into the last four of the Scottish Cup craving an unsung hero of his own.
One win from retaining the Premiership title, Ange Postecoglou got the better of his opposite number in February’s Viaplay Cup final.
During a run of seven straight Old Firm defeats between 2003 and 2004, McLeish spent his sleepless nights staring at the ceiling. And he fears the same fate for Beale (below) unless he shifts the monkey from his back soon.
‘He definitely needs a Konterman moment,’ reflected the former Rangers boss. ‘Watching the strikers last week in Aberdeen, he’s got (Fashion) Sakala, and (Rabbi) Matondo is
You can see there is a lack of confidence. They just need one wee break
quick as well. But seeing the guys missing the chances they had, you can see there’s a lack of confidence and they just need one wee break.’
Big Eck’s break came during extra-time of a nip-and-tuck cup classic in 2002. Konterman’s extra-time thunderbolt would spark a run of seven derbies undefeated in Old Firm games. For a time, management in the Glasgow goldfish bowl felt easy.
‘To see Bert ramming it in from 25 yards... before the game I had the bad parrot sitting on one shoulder saying: “What if you never beat Celtic?” and the good one on the other shoulder asking me: “But what if you do beat them?”
‘At the time, Celtic were on the march. I knew Rangers had to play a bit quicker and I still see that with today’s team. They have to play quicker.
‘They seem to rotate the ball and it ends up back with the guy who started it, rather than breaking the lines and getting the assertive passing going. That was one of the little things I changed when I went into Rangers.’
For now, at least, the only things Beale can change are the tactics and the mindset of his players.
Come the end of the season, he can make more meaningful alterations. Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Allan McGregor will lead the line of players heading for the exit. Talks are underway with Norwich City’s free agent Kieran Dowell, while a move for goalkeeper Jack Butland hinges on whether Rangers can secure better value for money overseas.
Impressed with the value secured in the transfer market by Postecoglou, McLeish predicts a big summer for his old club whatever happens on Sunday.
‘Recruitment is the most important thing. You see (Pep) Guardiola bringing the best players to Manchester City,’ he said.
‘Obviously, he is a fantastic coach as well. But it is also no secret that the recruitment is supreme. Sometimes you just can’t afford it, or you might have chosen the wrong players.
‘I remember David Murray saying that if you bring someone in and don’t feel he is right, get rid of them as quickly as possible.’
Asked how he might have fared against Postecoglou’s style of management McLeish, a legendary figure of the Scottish game, smiles. Impressed with the quick, attacking style of play, he credits the former Australia boss with confounding all of the early, dismissive expectations. ‘A mate of mine, we went to Aberdeen together on the train way back when we were 17,’ he said. ‘This lad Dougie Brown, his dad famously played for the Clyde team that beat Rangers many years ago, but he did not quite make it at Aberdeen. He emigrated to Australia and played for a team called Melbourne Hellas. Who was his team-mate? Postecoglou. ‘He said to me: “Alex, I just told him — you get up that wing and put the ball in the box and I’ll be on the end of it and we will be a partnership!” ‘He said that every team Ange went to, he has improved. And I know nowadays the managers don’t do recruitment themselves, they have guys doing the algorithms. But at the same time you know who the top players are in the world. And not everyone can just bring them to the club.
‘Sometimes you have to be more shrewd. And Postecoglou’s knowledge of these players throughout the world and where he’s been has been excellent. It has been great recruitment.’
In recent games, the key difference between Celtic and Rangers has been the finishing. While Rangers supporters query the continued involvement of Morelos so long as he resists the invitation to sign a new contract, Kyogo Furuhashi is just one goal short of 30 for the season.
‘You can’t single one guy out and say he isn’t trying,’ said McLeish of Morelos. ‘I don’t believe that for a minute. I know Morelos isn’t quite at his best but I don’t think the team are at their best. They have to believe they can win this.’
With five goals in his last three appearances against Rangers,
Furuhashi is the biggest danger to their hopes. Asked how the legendary Aberdeen defensive partnership of Willie Miller and McLeish would have dealt with the Japanese striker’s lightning pace and instincts, Big Eck smiles: ‘I would’ve passed him on to Willie!
‘He was the head waiter whenever I didn’t take care of someone. You have to get the sat nav out and say: “Where is Kyogo?” You need to stop him.’
When all else fails, McLeish hopes that desire and sheer will to win drag the underdogs over the line.
‘Rangers are not favourites. You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to work that out,’ he added. ‘But Michael could do with winning this one. He has to drill it into them that they have to go out there believing.’
Alex McLeish was promoting Viaplay’s live and exclusive coverage of Rangers v Celtic on Sunday. Viaplay is offering a special limited-time offer for Scottish football fans available until Sunday only. Visit viaplay.com for more information.