Ange Postecoglou returns to Ibrox without having the best of records there in the past.
The former Celtic manager brings his Tottenham side to Glasgow for a Europa League tie tomorrow evening and his feeling the heat after throwing away a lead to lose to Chelsea, leaving Spurs 11th in the Premier League table.
It is being labelled as a must-win for the Aussie as he attempts to cling onto his job in North London amid criticism for failing to adapt and sticking to his guns over his all-out attack way of playing.
It is also a big week for Rangers with the game taking place three days before the Premier Sports Cup final against Postecoglou’s old side, leaving Philippe Clement in a predicament over how to approach the two games.
Despite his success across the city, Postecoglou hasn’t had the best of times at Ibrox and has only ever won one match there.
Postecoglou expects ‘intense’ Rangers atmosphere
Postecoglou has managed his Celtic side away to Rangers four times and his record reads: W1 D1 L2.
The Ibrox atmosphere is famous, especially on occasions like the derby and European nights – the latter of which he will now experience.
It can be hostile for visiting players and managers and the pressure they are put under is known to have helped the Rangers team, particularly during the Europa League runs of recent years.
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The Spurs boss knows all about the “intense” heat of Ibrox and is expecting no different this time.
He told Sky Sports: “I’m looking forward to it. I had a great time up there in the two years I was there. Fair to say, Ibrox can be fairly intense and I’m sure we’ll feel that.
“But it’s a great stadium to play football in. The atmosphere, European nights. Even when I was there, they did awfully well in Europe – the first year I was there they got to the Europa League final.
“So you know how European nights, irrespective of their league form, they really rise for, so it’s a good challenge for us.
“I’m also looking forward to being back in Glasgow and feeling the cold again and hopefully see some friendly faces among the others.”
Postecoglou Ibrox record goes out the window
For all that Postecoglou hasn’t had the best of results at Ibrox, that will all go out the window for this one.
For a start he is now managing a different team and crucially it is one with vastly superior resources to both Rangers and Celtic.
That’s not to say Gers don’t have a chance here, because they do given the form of both sides.
Another factor to note is his first defeat in Govan was at the start of his tenure when he took a time to get going, and Steven Gerrard was still in charge.
The second was a dead rubber game after Celtic had won the league.
Rangers can though make it another miserable return for him if they can raise their game to the right levels.