RANGERS' annual joust with the demons of pre-qualifying for the Champions League begins tonight, when the champions of Russia, Alania Vladikavkaz, visit Ibrox for the first leg of the preliminary-round tie.
Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, tried to unburden one of his most gifted players, Brian Laudrup, of sole responsibility for the outcome of a difficult assignment: his counterpart, Valery Gazzayev, simultaneously made some onerous comments about the readiness of his goalkeeper, Zaur Khapov, to face British opposition in successive European ties.
In the absence of the suspended Paul Gascoigne, Laudrup will be regarded by the home support as the main man. Smith said: "In recent seasons in Europe, Laudrup has suffered from excessive expectations. You shouldn't expect any man to go out and win a game on his own, even if it sometimes happens.
"This is a collective responsibility for us. But I believe we're in a stronger position now to surround players like Laudrup and Gascoigne with players who will support them. The squad is better than I've had for several seasons.
Smith's summer recruits include the Swedish central defender, Joachim Bjorklund from Vicenza and the German mid-fielder, Jorg Albertz, from Hamburg.
Gazzayev remembered last season's defeat by Liverpool - with whom they drew 0-0 at Anfield after losing 2-1 at home - and pointed the finger at Khapov. "I believe we played to a better standard than the English team, but everybody knows the goalkeeper let us down," he said.
"I'm not sure if he has his nerve back to face another British team, but I don't want to make too much of it in case he develops a complex."
Dynamo Kiev, Ukraine's most prestigious soccer side, return to European competition with a new look and line-up tonight after a year's suspension on bribery charges.
Dynamo take on Rapid Vienna in a European Cup qualifying round first-leg match in the Austrian capital after UEFA reduced their three-year ban to a single year, citing its concern for the sport in the former Soviet republic.
The club pulled off the Ukrainian league and cup double last season and, despite starting their championship defence with an embarrassing loss to Metalurg Zaporizha, they are now second in the standings.
