Rangers legend Barry Ferguson is no stranger to European nights at Ibrox having appeared in more UEFA games for the Light Blues than any other outfield player in the club’s history – and he admits nothing will prepare Malmo for the noise that will greet them at Ibrox on Tuesday night in their Champions League QR3 second leg clash.
The Swedes hold a narrow advantage after winning 2-1 earlier this week but with Rangers confirming they can host a full house at Ibrox for the first time in 18 months, the atmosphere on Tuesday night is going to be unparalleled.
With UEFA banning away fans from their competitions before they reach the group stages, there could be over 50000 Rangers fans inside Ibrox on Tuesday night in what could be the biggest crowd at Ibrox since the ground was redeveloped in the 1980s and 1990s.
Ferguson believes the Malmo players are walking into a ‘perfect storm’ at Ibrox as the Rangers fans celebrate winning the league title as well as their own return to the Champions League as the Edmiston Drive ground is fully opened up for the first time since losing to Bayer Leverkusen in March 2020.
“They are about to walk into a perfect storm on Tuesday night at Ibrox and I’m not sure they’ll have the first idea what’s hit them when they come out of that tunnel before kick-off,” Ferguson told the Daily Record.
“A perfect storm? That famous UEFA soundtrack hasn’t been heard on this side of Glasgow for more than a decade.
“If that thought isn’t enough to get adrenaline pumping then I’m not sure what is.
“Then you add in the fact that the old place will be packed to the rafters for the first time in 18 months – on the back of a pandemic – and with a league title to celebrate as well as the stopping of Celtic’s 10 in a row?
“Trust me, I know what Ibrox is like on a European night.
“As a player, you can feel the electricity crackling in the air long before kick-off.
“But, in all my time at Rangers, I don’t think there was a set of circumstances even close to comparable with the situation the Swedes are about to find themselves wandering slap, bang into the middle of.
“Electric? This is going to be an outpouring of emotion like never before.
“Just thinking about it is making the hairs stand up on the back of my neck and I don’t think there’s any chance they’ll be prepared for the wall of noise that’s about to confront them.”
Rangers can’t afford repeat of sloppy display in Sweden
Rangers will need to perform much better on Tuesday against Malmo than they did in Sweden if they are going to make it through – packed Ibrox crowd or not.
Steven Davis’ late goal handed the Gers a lifeline as it looked like the tie was slipping away and now Rangers simply need to up their game.
While the prospect of a packed Ibrox pre-match is one that will intimidate the Malmo players, should Rangers lose, the Ibrox stars will quickly hear what the fans think.
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