Post by Taxigirl on Dec 6, 2005 8:33:38 GMT
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KO - 19:45 UK - Ibrox Stadium
Rangers manager Alex McLeish claims their Champions League dream would be dead and buried by now if he had walked away from the job.
His team can write their names into the history books tomorrow night if they defeat Inter Milan and become the first Scottish club to book a place in the knockout stages of the tournament.
A draw between Artmedia Bratislava and Porto in the other group match would also be enough to secure their passage to the last 16, regardless of events at Ibrox.
It would be a remarkable achievement for a club whose domestic season has gone into freefall, prompting Ibrox chairman David Murray to hold crunch talks with McLeish last month.
The Rangers boss was told his position would be reviewed in December and, since then, results in the Bank of Scotland Premier League have been poor.
The SPL champions are now languishing in fifth place, and trailing league leaders Celtic by 17 points, following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Falkirk.
The visit of Inter Milan is tipped to be McLeish's final game in charge of the club.
But he believes Rangers would have nothing left to play for by now had he not chosen to fight for his job and gone on to mastermind the dramatic 1-1 draw in Porto a couple of weeks ago, which keeps their hopes alive.
McLeish said: ``At the chat I had with David Murray a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't walking away and I was determined to be involved in this European experience.
``I'm absolutely certain that, if we had made a change then, we could be struggling to stay in Europe.
``I don't believe we would have got that performance or result had I gone.''
Asked whether he has held talks with Murray since last month's meeting, McLeish replied: ``Every day.''
Pressed further on whether those discussions were about his Rangers future, he added: ``It's all about the team and qualification in this competition. That's it.
``It's not about me. This is a Champions League game we're looking forward to here and it shouldn't be a negative conference.
``I've got a very positive outlook on the game and I think we should be concentrating on that.''
When Rangers were grouped with Inter Milan, Porto and Artmedia Bratislava in the Champions League, McLeish admits he expected the Scots to have little chance of progressing.
He said: ``We were seeded third and our ambition would always be to challenge Porto and Inter to try to get a place in the last 16.
``We have done that and we have maybe exceeded a lot of people's expectations with where we are just now.
``We have a very good chance and that was always the aim for us but, realistically, the top two seeds should make it.
``But we have a smashing chance.''
Inter Milan could only manage a narrow 1-0 win in an empty San Siro the last time the two clubs met and Rangers know how important the backing of their own fans will be at Ibrox tomorrow night.
An angry mob gathered outside the stadium on Saturday after surrendering a two-goal lead against Falkirk, but McLeish is confident his players have not lost the backing of the supporters.
He said: ``They were behind the team at the weekend and, latterly in the game when we lost the goals, then they vented their frustration.
``But they were with the team all the way through until then.
``I totally understand a fan's perspective. I've been through many years at football, going to games as a kid, playing the professional game and now managing.
``I've seen things like this happening before, but that's football.
``Will it be an emotional night? If we win it, it will be very emotional, yes, because I love winning,'' he said.
But even winning against one of the top teams in Europe may not be enough to save the beleaguered Ibrox boss now.
McLeish's strike duo Dado Prso and Nacho Novo have been ruled out of the decisive clash.
The pair were hoping to play a part but Prso is still nursing a hamstring injury and Novo is not yet fully recovered from a broken bone in his foot.
Better news for Rangers is that skipper Barry Ferguson returns from suspension, after sitting out Saturday's draw.
McLeish said: ``Ferguson is available to us again after suspension but Dado and Nacho won't make it.
``Nacho was pushing, to be fair to him. He has a big heart and he was determined to get back and try to help.
``He is not quite there and to risk him would be risking losing him for longer so we've got to be mindful of that as well.''
KO - 19:45 UK - Ibrox Stadium
Rangers manager Alex McLeish claims their Champions League dream would be dead and buried by now if he had walked away from the job.
His team can write their names into the history books tomorrow night if they defeat Inter Milan and become the first Scottish club to book a place in the knockout stages of the tournament.
A draw between Artmedia Bratislava and Porto in the other group match would also be enough to secure their passage to the last 16, regardless of events at Ibrox.
It would be a remarkable achievement for a club whose domestic season has gone into freefall, prompting Ibrox chairman David Murray to hold crunch talks with McLeish last month.
The Rangers boss was told his position would be reviewed in December and, since then, results in the Bank of Scotland Premier League have been poor.
The SPL champions are now languishing in fifth place, and trailing league leaders Celtic by 17 points, following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Falkirk.
The visit of Inter Milan is tipped to be McLeish's final game in charge of the club.
But he believes Rangers would have nothing left to play for by now had he not chosen to fight for his job and gone on to mastermind the dramatic 1-1 draw in Porto a couple of weeks ago, which keeps their hopes alive.
McLeish said: ``At the chat I had with David Murray a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't walking away and I was determined to be involved in this European experience.
``I'm absolutely certain that, if we had made a change then, we could be struggling to stay in Europe.
``I don't believe we would have got that performance or result had I gone.''
Asked whether he has held talks with Murray since last month's meeting, McLeish replied: ``Every day.''
Pressed further on whether those discussions were about his Rangers future, he added: ``It's all about the team and qualification in this competition. That's it.
``It's not about me. This is a Champions League game we're looking forward to here and it shouldn't be a negative conference.
``I've got a very positive outlook on the game and I think we should be concentrating on that.''
When Rangers were grouped with Inter Milan, Porto and Artmedia Bratislava in the Champions League, McLeish admits he expected the Scots to have little chance of progressing.
He said: ``We were seeded third and our ambition would always be to challenge Porto and Inter to try to get a place in the last 16.
``We have done that and we have maybe exceeded a lot of people's expectations with where we are just now.
``We have a very good chance and that was always the aim for us but, realistically, the top two seeds should make it.
``But we have a smashing chance.''
Inter Milan could only manage a narrow 1-0 win in an empty San Siro the last time the two clubs met and Rangers know how important the backing of their own fans will be at Ibrox tomorrow night.
An angry mob gathered outside the stadium on Saturday after surrendering a two-goal lead against Falkirk, but McLeish is confident his players have not lost the backing of the supporters.
He said: ``They were behind the team at the weekend and, latterly in the game when we lost the goals, then they vented their frustration.
``But they were with the team all the way through until then.
``I totally understand a fan's perspective. I've been through many years at football, going to games as a kid, playing the professional game and now managing.
``I've seen things like this happening before, but that's football.
``Will it be an emotional night? If we win it, it will be very emotional, yes, because I love winning,'' he said.
But even winning against one of the top teams in Europe may not be enough to save the beleaguered Ibrox boss now.
McLeish's strike duo Dado Prso and Nacho Novo have been ruled out of the decisive clash.
The pair were hoping to play a part but Prso is still nursing a hamstring injury and Novo is not yet fully recovered from a broken bone in his foot.
Better news for Rangers is that skipper Barry Ferguson returns from suspension, after sitting out Saturday's draw.
McLeish said: ``Ferguson is available to us again after suspension but Dado and Nacho won't make it.
``Nacho was pushing, to be fair to him. He has a big heart and he was determined to get back and try to help.
``He is not quite there and to risk him would be risking losing him for longer so we've got to be mindful of that as well.''