Allan McGregor: ‘Rangers in the Europa League final shouldn’t really happen’

As Ibrox roared with approval at the vanquishing of RB Leipzig eyes were drawn towards Allan McGregor. Three months after his 40th birthday an individual not known for demonstrative behaviour bellowed along to “The Blue Sea of Ibrox”. McGregor was like a giddy teenager.

“A lot of people have said the same,” McGregor says. “Someone asked me recently – obviously I am getting on a bit – whether I actually savour moments more now. I thought about it. ‘I should. Why not?’ If I hadn’t been asked that maybe I wouldn’t have been that way that night.

“That was one of the best atmospheres I have ever experienced. Everybody stayed to the end. But it’s a big thing. A Scottish club getting to the Europa League final, it shouldn’t really happen, should it? Let’s be honest.”

McGregor laughs when it is pointed out he is unlikely to be front and centre after a European semi-final again. “If you were a gambling man, you wouldn’t be putting money on it.” The goalkeeper is Rangers’ record appearance holder in Europe. His first game was a scoreless draw in Molde in 2006. Number 103 will come against Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville on Wednesday.

True to understated form, McGregor refuses to personalise the coming days, in which Rangers will attempt to win their second European trophy and first since 1972. With his contract soon to expire and Giovanni van Bronckhorst – should he maintain recent policy – likely to select Jon McLaughlin for Saturday’s Scottish Cup final against Hearts, this could be McGregor’s last outing as a professional. He claims not to have revelled in the post-Leipzig scene with retirement in mind. Talks and thoughts about the future can wait.

“I know this is a club built on winning trophies but you see Frankfurt winning a