McLeish rejects talk of United front

Champions' League preview/Panathinaikos v Rangers: Alex McLeish yesterday quashed any suggestion of a carve-up between friends as the Scots continued to turn their minds on the so-called Battle of Britain with Manchester United.

"Sir Alex won't be worried about us, because United are clear favourites to win this group, and it certainly won't be about the two of us ganging up on the others. Far from it.

"The way the fixtures fall, and with us playing United back to back, means they could end up fielding a weaker team later in the section and that wouldn't help us at all. Don't be fooled into thinking Sir Alex is assisting Rangers in any way."

The two Scots go back a long way, having been together at Aberdeen through the club's most successful times when Ferguson was manager and McLeish his influential central defender and the younger man has often sought the counsel of his elder.

It was a case of first things first, said McLeish, however, as Rangers prepared for tonight's match here against Panathinaikos. He was intent on building on the opening victory against Stuttgart.

For the moment McLeish has enough on his plate dealing with the Greek league leaders who are still smarting from their 5-0 humiliation at Old Trafford in the opening game.

"Panathinaikos will be up for this one after losing to United, so a draw would probably not be a bad result for us. But I have never set out for just a point and we will go forward because that's what we are suited to do."

McLeish will welcome his new captain Craig Moore back to the centre of defence after injury despite the outstanding form there of Henning Berg and Zurab Khizanishvili.

The Georgian could move to right back if Maurice Ross fails to recover from a weekend knock or he may be utilised in midfield alongside Emerson and Mikel Arteta if Ross is fit.

"We may tweak things a little," said McLeish, who also has Christian Nerlinger available again but will still be without Fernando Ricksen, Ronald de Boer and Steven Thompson.

The Greeks plan to make it difficult for Rangers as new coach Itzhak Shum attempts to kick-start their Champions League campaign. As Shum insisted: "We must forget about Manchester United, although that result does make this very important. We have learned from that defeat and we will not make the same mistakes again."

Panathinaikos, though, have major injury problems. Defender Rene Henriksen has already been ruled out and Shum is anxiously waiting to see if influential midfielder Lucian Sanmartean is fit after taking a knock in the 2-0 win over Ionikos at the weekend.