Uefa Champions League/Rangers v Inter Milan at Ibrox: Alex McLeish looked ahead to what is likely to be his final match as Rangers manager at Ibrox against Internazionale this evening in a mood of reflection.
A home victory, or a draw between Artmedia Bratislava and Porto, would ensure qualification from Group H - a first for Scottish football. But after watching his team fall 17 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premier League, the manager heads into this week's performance-review meeting with his chairman, David Murray, with few aces left to hand.
Thursday is earmarked as the day for change at Ibrox, but if McLeish ends a run of nine games without victory by steering his team to the knockout phase of the Champions League, then he would at least depart, or move into a less hands-on role, with professional dignity intact.
When asked what he would remember from a four-year spell at the club that has yielded seven trophies, McLeish said: "It has been an incredible experience. Obviously nobody likes to be criticised and we would all like things to be plain sailing.
"For me, to take the journey in the first place is something I'll always be proud of, because there have been people who have bottled it or spurned the chance to take a job like this. You have to take the experience of it and I think that can make you stronger."
McLeish has seen his squad hit by injuries while a host of players have failed to perform to their normal levels, and few would begrudge him a final hurrah. "Qualification would be tantamount to winning a trophy for me," he said.
Rangers captain Barry Ferguson returns from suspension tonight, but Inter's visit comes too soon for the injured forwards Dado Prso and Nacho Novo. Brahim Hemdani, Julien Rodriguez, Olivier Bernard and Alex Rae are also out, but the performance of the returning Thomas Buffel in Saturday's home draw with Falkirk was a rare source of comfort for the Rangers manager.
RANGERS (probable 4-4-1-1): Waterreus; Hutton, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Murray; Namouchi, Ricksen, Ferguson, Lovenkrands; Buffel; Jeffers. Subs: Klos, Thompson, Fanfan, McCormack, Burke, Smith, Malcolm.
INTERNAZIONALE (probable 4-4-2): Toldo; Andreolli, Mihajlovic, Materazzi, Burdisso; Solari, Pizarro, Cristiano Zanetti, Wome; Martins, Momente. Subs: Julio Cesar, Favalli, Samuel, Boumsong, Cambiasso, Adriano, Javier Zanetti.
