Ally McCoist, the Rangers legend and TNT Sports pundit, is bracing himself for an intense European clash early next year as Rangers head to Old Trafford.
After witnessing Sporting Lisbon, led by new Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, dismantle Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League, McCoist admitted he’ll be watching the Rangers game from behind the couch.
Amorim’s emphatic victory over Pep Guardiola’s side was his penultimate match in charge of Sporting before his high-profile move to Manchester United, where he replaces Erik ten Hag.
McCoist, who was in Lisbon to cover the game, praised the Portuguese manager’s tactical prowess and expressed concern over Rangers’ upcoming encounter with the Red Devils.
Switching focus to Europa League duties, McCoist is covering Rangers’ crucial clash against Olympiacos in Greece.
On a lighter note, he shared a humorous exchange with Celtic-supporting talkSPORT co-host Alan Brazil, who couldn’t resist bringing up Celtic’s recent success.
Brazil quipped: “It’s a few weeks away but Rangers go to Old Trafford and Celtic go to Villa. That’ll be a big few days.”
McCoist replied: “I’ll be watching that one behind the couch – you can watch it on the couch with a glass of red! Some of the games coming up are fantastic.
“Credit to you boys as you’ve given yourself a real chance of qualification. I’ve to say Al, it doesn’t break my heart to say it but I don’t particularly enjoy saying it, what about your mob on Tuesday night?
“The tempo Celtic are playing at right now a lot of teams just can’t live with them. They’ve got pace and power. They got a doing in Dortmund so to bounce back with a couple of great results is great.”
Brazil, clearly enjoying Celtic’s resurgence, added: “The urgency and the electricity generated at Celtic just now is incredible – it shocked me. It was an amazing game. We’re talking about a side in the Bundesliga doing really well and I thought it would be a tough game but Celtic were fantastic.”
Arsenal great Ray Parlour then turned the conversation back to Rangers’ Europa League hopes, noting:
“Rangers seem all right at the moment, six points in the Europa League. Only three points off the top. They need to not lose the game. If they get a draw it’s a fantastic result.”
McCoist, cautiously optimistic, responded: “I’d bite your hand off right now for a draw. The level of inconsistency of Rangers has been remarkable but they played really well in Malmo, picked up the victory, and were excellent in the home game against Steaua Bucharest.
“They got a little bit of a going over against Lyon so it’s been a little bit up and down but if they can put together any kind of level of performance as they have in Europe and get a draw then it would be a great point.”
Ending on a humorous note, Parlour asked: “I just want to ask who you are commentating with tonight – is it Gordon Ramsay? You had Noel Gallagher at Manchester City. Is it only celebrities who commentate with you now?”
McCoist laughed: “I think that’s Noel’s first and last. He was looking forward to it and then his team got battered 4-1.”
Brazil couldn’t resist adding: “Mind you, you got four tickets to every Oasis concert,” to which McCoist replied: “Don’t worry about that – that was in the contract!”