When Lee McCulloch visited Murrayfield yesterday to promote Rangers’ glamorous friendly against Manchester United in July, he was drooling over the idea of seeing the two titans of Scotland and England go up against each other once more.
During the 2010–11 Champions League group stages, the former Ibrox captain faced the Old Trafford club twice and relished the opportunity to be involved in both games.
Even though it is only a preseason game, he is confident that their summer encounter in Edinburgh will be a hotly contested match that draws a crowd of 67,500. He declared, “It will be sold out.” “How the atmosphere will be.”
However, McCulloch expressed uncertainty when asked if he believed
But one thing is for sure for the guy who, during his trophy-filled time in Govan, won the Premiership twice on the last day. This season, the clincher Premiership is expected to last the entire duration. It’s really close, he remarked. “Very, very close. It might proceed directly to the wire.
Despite the pressure to win the trophy, he is also confident that current Rangers manager Philippe Clement can navigate the remaining nine league games in the coming weeks.
When McCulloch and his teammates were in close competition with their local rivals in 2009 and 2011, having Walter Smith in the dugout proved to be vital. The renowned Scot was on his second tenure in charge and“I would’ve liked to play for him. I’ve only spoken to him a couple of times, but he reminds me of Walter a bit. I’m 100 per cent not comparing them. However, there’s a steeliness to him, he has a presence, a seriousness. That is what Walter was like.
“If the team’s winning 1-0 or getting beat 1-0, you couldn’t really tell looking at him on the touchline. He’s a bit emotionless, which I quite like. And I imagine the players really respect him.
“He will be a big factor just as Brendan Rodgers is for Celtic and Stevie Naismith is for Hearts. The manager is big, they are the leader. But it is down to the dressing room as well. It is about keeping your confidence and remaining focused. I am excited about it.”
Like so many supporters, McCulloch could see little prospect of Rangers winning the Premiership when they lost 3-1 at home to Aberdeen to fall seven points behind Celtic back at the end of September in what proved to be the final game of the Michael Beale reign.
The change they’ve experienced since Clement’s appointment has surprised him.
“The manager’s arrival, who changed the team, gave them unity and confidence, and demonstrated that he could alter his style of play from game to game, is the biggest plus for Rangers,” the player stated.
He may be more straightforward, depending on the pitch. It takes a brave manager, in my opinion, to do that and to have faith in his players after they have performed so admirably.
“Any year you win a title, of course it’s big,” McCulloch went on. You own the bread and butter. You’re looking for that one. Rangers can now focus on Europe and their home form since they are no longer in Europe.
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