Scottish football is still licking its wounds from it latest merciless European mugging. But former Rangers ace Pieter Huistra insists our game still has plenty of credit in the bank with the Dutch public despite the brutal way AZ Alkmaar snatched Dundee United’s group stage dream from the Tangerines’ grasp.
And four days on from a result that heaped shame on the nation, the Dutchman insists his old side have no need to worry about restoring tartan pride when Gio van Bronckhorst’s team take on PSV. In the birthplace of Total Football, United suffered total humiliation last week as hopes of building on their shock 1-0 first-leg win were wiped out by a savage 7-0 shellacking.
It was the latest in a long line of embarrassing results for Scottish clubs on the continent, every bit as bleak as the mortifying memories of Artmedia Bratislava, Progres Niederkorn and Connah’s Quay Nomads. Yet Huistra reckons there will be no shortage of respect shown by his fellow countrymen to his old side this week after Rangers’ impressive achievements on the road to Seville turbo-charged Scotland’s coefficient cause last season.
“It was a tough night for United,” said the nine-in-a-row legend. “I’ve seen a few of the goals on TV. It was a complete turnaround from the first leg. I know the AZ players were very angry with themselves after the game at Tannadice. They played bad and should never have lost. But boy did they make up for it big time!
“However, I don’t think the football public of Holland will now view Scottish football in a negative way. We always have respect for the way the Scots do football and the Scottish people’s attitude to the game. Rangers last year did so well going all the way to Seville, so that was a good advert for the Scottish game.
“Sometimes these results happen. Of course for Dundee United it will feel sore. But for Scottish football in general and how it’s seen, it will not make a big difference I think. The Rangers team are better not to look at the PSV match as a chance for them to restore Scottish pride. You’re better focusing only on your team and your club.
“That’s because PSV at home are always strong. The Philips Stadion is quite intimidating with the fans so close to the field. It’s a little like Ibrox but a little smaller, more compact. PSV always play well at home so after the first game, even if Rangers are ahead, nothing will be decided yet.
“It will be very interesting to see how both managers approach the first game. Do they go for broke or play in a calculated way and go a little cautious? It’s always fascinating.”
Huistra is just as interested to see how new PSV boss Ruud van Nistelrooy fairs in his first management job. The former Manchester United and Netherlands poacher supreme has made a blistering start in the PSV dugout, claiming Dutch Super Cup glory with a 5-3 win over rivals Ajax before edging past Monaco in their opening Champions League qualifier.
A tally of 19 goals in five games suggests van Nistelrooy is finding life as a gaffer just as easy as he found hitting the net as a player. But Huistra has recent memory of a similar experiment with a rookie coach backfiring in Eindhoven. He said: "I know Ruud as a player of course but this is his first season as a head coach.
"He's new and has some very good experienced assistants. Fred Rutten is a very well-respected coach in Holland, so he's certainly not alone. He'll have a lot of help around him. It's not unusual for PSV to give such a big job to someone starting their first job. They did it with Mark van Bommel as well so it looks like they have a policy where they take their own people and promote them through the ranks.
"Van Bommel was the coach of the Under-19s and reserves before moving to the professional side. Van Nistelrooy has made the same journey. Is it a risk? Yeah I think it is. You saw with Van Bommel it was a risk because it was too early for him.
"He only lasted 18 months before being sacked. But that's why PSV have put a very experienced assistant in beside van Nistelrooy. He will guide Ruud through these first few months in the job, which is a very good move I think by the club.”
Tuesday night’s first-leg clash pits the PSV boss against his former national team skipper and Huistra reckons the duel between old friends has caught the imagination of the Dutch public. "Yeah of course, it’s two friends meeting each other,” he said. “As soon as the games on Tuesday finished, that was the narrative in Holland. It will be a good game.
“Ruud had a big career with Manchester United and Real Madrid but van Bronckhorst is also a big name in the Netherlands. He was captain of the national team and is certainly well respected. He made Feyenoord champions and of course took Rangers to the Europa League final last year so I think they go into this meeting equal in stature.
“I know for sure that the game against PSV will be more difficult for Rangers than the tie with Union Saint Gilloise last week. PSV will be dangerous on the counter attacks. They have a lot of speed up front. It’s difficult to pin them down in their own half because you have to leave space behind your defence, which they are so quick to exploit.
“Rangers are at home first so that is something Gio has to have in mind. He will want his team to make an immediate impression on the tie but he cannot give away too much space because against teams like PSV that is dangerous. That’s what Monaco did. They pressed PSV high and gave away the space - and they were punished for it.”
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