Alex McLeish’s first task when he was handed the Ibrox reins was to find a way to combat a Celtic team that had the physical edge over Rangers.
And the former Gers gaffer reckons Michael Beale will have to do the same if he’s to rebalance the Old Firm power struggle. McLeish has been impressed with the dynamic squad of swashbucklers Ange Postecoglou has developed since taking over at Parkhead. They don’t share much in terms of style to the hulking Hoops side bossed by Martin O’Neill that he was tasked with halting when he took over from Dick Advocaat in December 2001.
But the one thing they do have in common is their dominant position over the Ibrox club. Beale hopes five new recruits this summer can help him close the gap on their energetic rivals - but Big Eck believes the Londoner should be taking a leaf out of his opposite number’s recruitment play book if he wants to put Gers back on top. Asked how many new faces Rangers will need ahead of the new campaign, the former Scotland boss said: “It’s hard for me to judge.
“Celtic have a physical, athletic side and that’s brought them some domination in the last few years. Maybe we need to look and see about bringing that kind of formula into our club. Sometimes with players it’s confidence and I think Michael is working really hard on that.
“The league is going to be very difficult at this stage of the season, given the points deficit. It kind of reminded me of my own time at the club. When I first took over the league was pretty much gone. We had a couple of cups to win and we managed to do that.
“For this group of players there is a huge game ahead in the Scottish Cup. The team would need to claw back the deficit in the league and that means Celtic dropping a helluva lot of points.
“At this moment, they don’t look like doing that. Their consistency has been phenomenal. You can’t help that, you just need to keep winning. Rangers are probably one of a dozen clubs in the world who have to win every week.”
Beale’s team have been doing that in the majority, coming out on top in 17 of his 19 games in charge so far. It’s not a dissimilar record to McLeish when he first took over. Like Steven Gerrard’s ex-assistant, McLeish was called in half way through a season to turn around a faltering campaign.
He went 18 games in the Ibrox hotseat before tasting his first defeat but those similarities end with the fact McLeish managed to secure a morale-boosting League Cup triumph over Celtic within weeks of taking the job, whereas Beale failed on that front with last month’s painful Viaplay Cup loss to the Hoops at Hampden.
But McLeish believes a win in the Scottish Cup semi-final next month could yet have the same kind of uplifting effect his side enjoyed after celebrating a cup double at the end of his first season in charge, a campaign that paved the way for a treble 12 months later.
“I inherited a very good team,” said McLeish, looking back. “They hadn’t been at their level for a while and when we were at a dinner last year, Dick admitted that. He was tired and I was the new kid on the block. We got a really good start and the man-management of those players was very important. I think Michael has a good rapport with his players, that’s what I’m told anyway.
“That bodes well when the players are buying into what you want to do. In the end, everyone must give everything for the club. Michael’s come in and he’s definitely got the backing of the players. They love working with him. Hopefully they can get to a level where the competition in the league is tighter than it is at the moment.
“I met Michael at a dinner a few weeks ago. He’s a nice guy, he has good good ideas and he only wants the best for Rangers. In terms of advice, Sir Alex Ferguson’s voice always rings in my ears when someone asks that. His advice was always, ‘play with tempo’. That’s something Michael tries to do anyway.”
McLeish was back in his old dugout seat yesterday as he took charge of a Rangers legends side against a world select. Robin van Persie struck a double as Jack Wilshere and Luis Boa Morte sealed a 4-3 win in front of 25,000 fans.
Jermain Defoe also netted twice as he finally got the chance to bid farewell to the Gers faithful after last year’s sudden departure from the club, with Kris Boyd also on the scoresheet for the Ibrox old-stagers.
And McLeish said: “It was a great turn out, we knew it would be. It’s a fantastic gesture too from the players from both camps to come and perform the way they did. Unfortunately, I’m not able to renew Ronald de Boer’s contract! Seriously, it’s great to come back and see everyone. It shows the affection these guys have for the club that they want to come back and play on occasions like this.
“Thanks to the fans who came to see us because other people will benefit from it. It’s always great to come back, you still get a buzz because it brings back the memories. Walking out on the pitch you get that adulation. It was great to be back.”
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