PSG win record is Bahoken
before I made my debut against Celtic, he encouraged me as well.”
McCrorie’s pals gave him stick when a punter on Twitter started calling him Pirlo after Italy’s legendar y sitting midfielder Andrea.
But he admits that life has changed since he broke into the Rangers first-team.
His level-headed nature will ensure he doesn’t get ideas above his station, though, especially as Ibrox kitman Jimmy Bell has only recently allowed him to change in the first-team dressing room.
McCrorie said: “Some of my pals fired the Pirlo thing into our group chat but I won’t let that go to my head.
“Things are different now. When I’m out and about, people notice me now and a few Rangers fans have stopped me.
“I ’ l l ne ver t a ke anything for granted. I’d never be complacent. I’ll just do my best and see whe r e it takes me.
“I only moved into the first-team changing room after the recent Hearts game.
“I had to get permission from Jimmy f irst – he’s the one who decides when you move up.
“Thankfully he pulled me across after the Hearts game and said: ‘Bring your gear over’. I was buzzing.
“That was a big moment. I’ve gone from a peg to a locker!”
Ibrox interim gaf fer Graeme Murty believes McCrorie will fit in with the big boys for a long time. He’s shown faith in the youngster during his caretaker stint, even after the error against Accies. Murty has compared him to Southampton ace James WardProwse, whom he watched blossom at St Mary’s when he was a coach there. And he expects McCrorie to develop into a top player for club and country in the future. Murty said: “I trust the kid. I trust his mentality, his ability and his learning to go and apply stuff at a high standard.
“He had a massive test after the Hamilton match when he made a big mistake.
“But since that moment he has stood up and been even stronger. That tells you all about his character.
“He is not someone who shirks or hides away.
“Ross has grown up a Rangers fan and watched some fantastic teams. He wants to emulate those guys.
“He wants to live up to those values. He knows what it means to be a Rangers player, a Rangers fan and what the club means to him.
“He could mature into a good player over a long period of time.
“The Southampton guys who came through when I was there were at a Premier League club which was getting bigger.
“But they didn’t operate on the same level of pressure as Ross had on a daily basis at Rangers.
“So I’m excited about what he can become. He has lots to learn but I’d compare him to Ward-Prowse in that he has a fantastic mindset.
“He comes in every day with a desire to get better. That will stand
him in good stead.” PSG’s Invincibles bid was wrecked spectacularly last night by Ligue One newcomers Strasbourg.
Neymar & Co were humiliated 2-1 after goals from Nuno Da Costa and Stephane Bahoken’s winner.
Kyl ian Mbappe had equal ised but the Paris billionaires couldn’t claw back a side that had been in France’s third tier last year.
Strasbourg had to soak up huge amounts of pressure at Stade de la Meinau as PSG tried to save their proud 25-match unbeaten run.
And the repercussions could be worse for PSG who lost Champions League keeper Oli Kamara.
He was injured with 20 minutes left and was subbed after lengthy treatment.
Paris star Javier Pastore said: “We paid dearly for two moments for which we weren’t focused.”
PSG wi l l face Bayern Munich this week in Celtic’s Euro group – and the German giants moved six points clear at the top of the Bundesliga yesterday after a 3-1 win over Hanover.
Second-placed RB Leipzig crashed 4- 0 at Hoffenheim and Schalke in third could only draw 2- 2 against bottom side Cologne.
In Spain, Barcelona blew a chance to stretch their lead at the top of La Liga.
They could only draw 2-2 with Celta Vigo who took the lead through Iago Aspas.
Lionel Messi levelled and Luis Suarez put the hosts ahead – but Maxi Gomez tied it up in 70 minutes.
Second-placed Valencia can close the gap at the top to two points today when they visit Leganes.
Atletico Madrid in third also moved closer after a 2-1 against Sociedad. Antoine Griezmann f ired a late winner after Willian Jose’s penalty for Sociedad was cancelled out by Filipe Luis.