The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
GauldeyesshotatEurope
WHEN DUNDEE United were in their European pomp in the 1980s, Ryan Gauld was still a decade away from being born.
Despite that, the teenager is well aware of the rich historical pedigree the club once possessed when they went toe to toe with continental giants such as Barcelona and Roma.
Now, with the present-day Tangerines hot on the tails of Motherwell in third place in the Premiership, he admits the players are desperate to secure European football for themselves next season — and hopefully they will stop having to listen to glory day stories from the likes of United legend and current youth coach Dave Bowman,
He said: “I always watch European football on the television when it’s on.
“I watch the Spanish football and the Champions League. It’s good to watch these matches, compare the different styles and see how other countries play the game.
“Everyone is learning all the time and I think if we got into Europe we could do OK.
“I think the style of European games would suit the way we play. It would be great to test ourselves against good European sides. Although Dundee United have a big history in Europe, we’d be the smaller club against plenty of teams so it would be about testing yourself and taking it from there.
“I’ve obviously heard about United’s history, the ties against Roma and Barcelona.
“Looking at Barcelona now, it’s amazing to think United have an unbeaten record against them and knocked them out of Europe.
“Dave Bowman was telling me he scored in the Nou Camp but I don’t think he realises the warm-up doesn’t count!”
Gauld was part of the last United squad to sample European competition in August 2012 when the Tangerines faced Dinamo Moscow in a Europa League qualifier.
They drew the first leg 2-2 at Tannadice but lost 5-0 on a night to forget in the return tie in Russia.
Gauld, who is now one of Scottish football’s hottest prospects, watched that second tie in the stands and even had to help with the kit afterwards but the whole experience has made him even more determined to sample continental competition next season.
He added: “It would be amazing to qualify for Europe because everyone in the dressing-room wants to experience that.
“It’s something that would stay with you for the rest of your days so that’s the goal for us this season. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep it going in the league and set up some European games.
“I was actually in the squad for the game in Moscow a couple of years ago. I travelled over with the team but didn’t make the bench, I was in the stand.
“Even though I wasn’t involved, it was still a great experience to be there, see what European football is like and watch a team like Dinamo Moscow close up.
“I was part of the squad but I still had to help with the kit!
“Dinamo were a very good side. The lads drew at home and we wanted to go across there and nick something. But they were a top team, one of the best in Russia, so it was very difficult. “They had a lot of quality, like Kevin Kuyrani up front and he’s played in the Champions League. He wasn’t the only one, they had a very good winger and players who cost a lot of money.”
United cut the gap on Motherwell to just four points with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Inverness on Wednesday night, with Gauld scoring one of his side’s goals.
It was theTangerines’eighth win in the last nine games and Gauld is hoping United can keep their run going tomorrow inAberdeen.
He added: “I felt we deserved to win against Inverness. It was a tight game with most of the match played in midfield but we got the goals we needed to win.
“It was another victory and we just want to keep things going when we playAberdeen this weekend.”