Alex McLeish: European games seem like 'a relief' for Rangers players

Alex McLeish believes Rangers have already shown they can get the better of European sides like Athletic Bilbao – and believes the players may feel “relief” at playing in continental competition.

The Ibrox side are preparing to head out to Spain for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao, having drawn 0-0 at home last week to leave the tie in the balance.

The run deep into the latter stages of the competition has been in contrast to Rangers’ domestic form, where they have endured a miserable season. But Barry Ferguson’s side could yet finish the season with a flourish if they can get a positive result on Thursday and put themselves just two games away from the final.

McLeish sees a difference in the Rangers players on these occasions and thinks that both the style of competition and the change in the type of pressure seems to suit them.

“Maybe it seems like a relief for some of the players when they go into Europe,” he said.

“They seem to express themselves a lot more than they have done in the domestic league.

“But I guess when you look at the European games, they’ve been open. Mourinho’s team was open, Rangers were attacking and there was space for the opposition although Barry got them working very hard on their recoveries. Getting back when losing possession has been very good and a good feature of his good work.”

McLeish, who won a treble among his seven major trophies as Rangers manager, believes the team can get the result they need but will have to draw on their experiences so far and be prepared for an Athletic Bilbao side with a point to prove.

“European competition has been incredible,” he said. “Beating Jose Mourinho and putting one on him, that was exceptional. And now what the team did last week just shows what they have in their lockers.

“It’s going to be a cauldron. We know that they were smarting. I think they’ve been criticised by the Spanish press, who were saying it wasn’t a great performance.

“But Rangers nullified their strengths and they have to go and do that in Bilbao.

“I think it’ll be all guns blazing from Athletic.”