Ally McCoist recalls how Graeme Souness left Dynamo Kiev ‘raging’ to secure crucial Rangers win
Ahead of the crucial return leg with Dortmund Ally McCoist has recalled how Graeme Souness sneakily helped secure a previous Rangers European win.
Trailing 1-0 to Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev ahead of the second leg of the 1987 Champions League First Round tie at Ibrox, the player-manager reportedly set up a late-night trap to contain legendary Kiev attacker Oleg Blokhin.
Gers won the home game 2-0 to advance with goals from McCoist and Mark Falco, in what the Light Blues’ record goalscorer is hoping will be a foreshadowing of tonight’s game at Ibrox.
Speaking live on talkSPORT this morning (Thursday 24 February, 07.00am) McCoist said: “What a team they had.
“Bringing them back to Ibrox, they were brilliant in wide areas. Blokhin, what a football player.
“The night before the game Graeme brought the pitch in five metres either side. Made the pitch really narrow so our full-backs could get a kick at Blokhin.
“They were absolutely raging… I can remember [the manager’s] interview after the game, he was absolutely livid.
“Genius from Souness.”
At all costs
Former Ibrox boss Souness has never been a man to let friendliness get in the way of his competitive edge so the story fits his character.
On that occasion it apparently made the difference and McCoist remembers it fondly.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is unlikely to be pulling any of the same sort of tricks at Ibrox tonight, and surely wouldn’t be able to considering the scrutiny on big games these days.
But he will need to be utilising everything at his disposal within the rules to make sure Gers reach the Round of 16.
To go out at this stage, having produced such a stirring display in Germany, would be crushing for fans and player alike.
They have put themselves in pole position to advance, and anything other than doing so will negate their crowning achievement of the season to date.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues favourite also shared his prayers for how the team set up tonight ahead of the crucial clash.