Simo Valakari will travel back in time 27 years when he faces Rangers – because that was the day he and his Motherwell teammates became the ultimate party crashers.
May 5, 1997 was the date that Rangers fans have long since tried to wipe from their memories. It was the day Rangers were set to make history. It was the day a club would celebrate. A day to be remembered forever. This was the day that ended up being forgotten about.
Over 50,000 fans crammed into Ibrox to witness the Glasgow club claim their legendary nine-in-a-row. Thousands of pounds had been spent on the occasion, with parties planned and the champagne sitting ready to be popped. With this signifying their last home game of the 1996/97 season, this was Rangers’ chance to celebrate the occasion in front of their own fans. But come full time Paul Gascoigne and Co were left stunned as Owen Coyle’s double gave the Fir Park an unimaginable 2-0 win. And Valaraki remembers the day well and hopes he can upset the odds once again as they face Philippe Clement’s men on Sunday.
He said: “My last game for Motherwell in 2000 was against Rangers at Fir Park, we beat them 2-0. And my first game at Ibrox was a game three years earlier when Rangers had their first chance to secure the nine-in-a-row.
“That was a big thing, they knew if they beat us then it was over. We went there and Owen Coyle scored twice for us to win 2-0, so all the balloons and everything went flat!”
Despite his fond memories the McDiarmid Park gaffer is under no illusion of the challenge ahead, adding: “They were a great side, what a team they had. I remember Paul Gascoigne giving me a black eye with an elbow in a game in those days! I have been to Ibrox a couple of times since I have been here. They are a good team and it’s not easy to play for Rangers or for Celtic because they are expected to win every single game. If it’s half-time and it’s 0-0 then it’s panicking among the fans. I used to have that in my old team Riga because we had the biggest budget and every game you were expected to blow the opposition away. But it doesn’t work like that, that’s not football.
“There are always opponents who are good and can make life difficult for you. Other teams have shown what is possible, though, and we will look at that. We can’t copy it exactly but we can see what things they did and maybe focus on some of the good things.”