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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Ally McCoist in cheeky Celtic dig as he talks up Rangers '6 million fans in Seville' Europa League final prospect

Smirking Ally McCoist has taken a swipe at Celtic's fan numbers at the UEFA Cup Final as Rangers eye a run to Seville.

Gio van Bronckhorst's men would follow in the footsteps of their rivals 2003 heroics if they see off RB Leipzig and reach the Europa League final.

Tickets for the final have already been released with eager fans able to take their chance on Rangers coming through two legs with the Bundesliga side.

Ibrox hero McCoist allowed himself to look ahead to the potential showpiece when discussing the surge to the final with Alan Brazil.

However, he admitted to his Celtic-daft co-host on talkSPORT's Breakfast Show that the German side would go into the semi-final as favourites.

McCoist gushed over the Europa League exploits from his former side so far, stating: “It’s unbelievable.

(talkSPORT)

“Remember they lost their first two games in the group stage? They ended up taking eight from the next 12 points and then knocked out Dortmund, Red Star and Braga.

“Some of their performances in Europe have been incredible, especially the Dortmund one.

“The only thing I would say is I would hate for anyone to underestimate RB Leipzig. I looked at it and since Christmas Leipzig have been the best team in Germany, including Dortmund and Munich.”

Brazil asked: “Could it be an all British final? Or could it be an all German final?”

McCoist said: “I fancy West Ham to beat Frankfurt. I think Rangers are second favourites against Leipzig, however the way they’ve been playing in Europe you never know.”

Brazil responded: “I was waiting for West Ham against Rangers and I was think ‘NATO will have to get involved here’. I don’t want to even think about it.”

McCoist laughed: “They’d need to play that European game on the moon. Could you imagine trying to get tickets?”

Brazil said: “Normally you think ‘hold on a minute, this draw is fixed’ but they kept Liverpool and City apart and they kept Rangers and West Ham apart.”

McCoist went on: “It would be absolutely unbelievable. It would be fantastic. I sent wee Joe Cole a message, he was on and absolutely ecstatic with West Ham and I sent him a message and said ‘I’d love to see you in the final pal’ and he sent one back saying ‘it would be great, wouldn’t it?’”

Attention then turned to the rivalry between the two Glasgow giants and their similar paths.

The official number of Celtic fans in Seville ahead of the clash with Porto has long been lauded - with some on social media claiming the figure to be as high as 6 million fans.

However, McCoist was quick to laugh that off.

Brazil asked: “Where is the final?”

McCoist said: “You won’t believe where it is. It’s in Seville.”

Brazil joked: “Do you reckon you’ll have 50,000 there?”

McCoist quipped: “No we won’t have as many as the 6,487,000 you had there.”

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