JAMES TRAYNOR in Athens
ALMOST to a man, Rangers players have taken time out to stress the
significance to their club of European football and every one of them
wants to play his part tonight in Athens. However, only a handful of
players are guaranteed places, and perhaps one or two established
first-team members will have to sit out the first leg of Rangers'
European Cup preliminary tie.
Although the players know very little about their opponents, AEK
Athens, Walter Smith has looked closely at the Greek champions and his
starting team will be the one which he feels can best cope with their
strengths.
The manager believes AEK to be strong through midfield to attack, and
the chances are he may look at a system which will have five in midfield
with Mark Hateley hoping to feed off them. If Smith does indeed go for
that formation, Rangers' most prolific goalscorer Ally McCoist might be
frozen out.
The supporters -- around 700 are expected to travel -- might be
bemused, but if their favourite striker is left out, it could be the
start of a series of omissions with manager Smith predicting: ''The
recognised Rangers team might change quite a bit this season.''
The idea of playing a heavily-populated midfield with Brian Laudrup
operating just behind Hateley has obvious appeal, but Smith was
unwilling to offer many clues as to his intention and his deliberations
were being made harder by an injury to John Brown.
The central defender hurt his back in training a couple of days ago,
and he was monitored closely during training at the match venue, the
Nikos Goumas Stadium, last night. A decision on Brown's fitness will be
made later today.
Smith may have to go to plan B which might involve playing a non-Scot,
perhaps Australian Craig Moore or Gary Stevens, at the back.
With Hateley and Laudrup starting, Trevor Steven would have to be left
on the bench. ''Hateley is the type of player the Greeks will not have
encountered too often,'' Smith said, ''and, if we defend well, we should
have opportunities to get the ball forward.
''Defending well will be
crucial, but it would be folly to think only in terms of sitting back.
We have players who could cause them problems, and it may be vital to
have someone like Laudrup who can take the ball and relieve pressure on
the defence.''
Smith added that Laudrup will be allowed freedom to express himself
and it has become clear very quickly that Rangers are expecting a major
contribution from the Dane.
While the other newcomer, Basile Boli, has predicted great things
ahead, Laudrup is much more reserved. ''It is nice that people think I
will be able to do something but I am only one man and all I can do is
my best,'' Laudrup said.
Having made his reputation in Germany and Italy, Laudrup is well aware
of the value to clubs of playing regularly at the highest level, but it
has also made him realistic enough to admit that it is far too early for
anyone to be considering a European final.
It is his belief that Rangers are heading in the correct direction and
that playing in the Champions League would help all of the players and
the club financially, which is why the game against AEK is so important.
''It is a tie I would rather have had after five or six league matches,
but they have the same problem as us in that respect,'' he said.
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It has been suggested that AEK, who had five players in the Greek
World Cup squad, will lean on Laudrup, but he would be happy to accept
close company pointing out: ''Football is a physical sport and, if I was
worried about the possibility of being knocked down, I shouldn't be
playing.
''Besides, I hope I am given special attention because if players are
busy watching me it will mean someone else in the Rangers team might not
be marked so closely.
''It would be a struggle for me, but good for the team and if I am
knocked down I will get up and play on. I am impatient to show what I
can do.''
Rangers' immediate future regarding the European Cup could well depend
on how quickly Laudrup is able to exert an influence, but while he will
be trying to operate at his creative best, Rangers' last man, Andy
Goram, also will have to continue the form he has shown in pre-season
games. ''He has been terrific and I have to say he has responded well to
the action I took last season,'' said Smith, who had put his keeper on
the transfer list.
The manager will be depending on Goram to foil the Greeks should they
break through the defensive line. He has already warned his players that
AEK are a better side than Sparta Prague and Levski Sofia -- two teams
who destroyed Rangers' European ambitions in recent seasons. We are all
about to find out just how strong, or otherwise, they are.
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