Michael Beale wasted no time helping get the Steven Gerrard era flying at Rangers thanks to big European away results.
Now the Ibrox boss hopes his previous in plotting those successful missions can ease his Gers team through a potentially fraught path to Champions League riches. Rangers got back their pride and made plenty progress in Europe immediately after Gerrard and Beale got to work.
A year on from the Progres Niederkorn nightmare, they battled their way through a marathon eight-game slate to reach the Europa League. They repeated the arduous qualifying trick the following season then made the Round of 16 in back-to-back campaigns. Gers were already out of Europe after a Champions League embarrassment when Beale returned in November as manager. So leading the club into continental competition for the first time – after 53 games assisting – is a huge deal for him. Beale admits the release of the domestic fixtures was one great source of excitement.
