Does the fact you missed the semi-finals in 2008 through injury make you savour these games more?

If we win I probably will. It was obviously disappointing last time but it’s a different challenge and I’m a wee bit further on in my life. Obviously, it will be special, it will be special for every player to get to this stage in a European competition for the club is massive.

There are a lot of goals in this Leipzig team, you don’t strike me as the kind of guy who would worry about stuff like that. Are you level headed going into these sorts of challenges?

Pretty much. You sort of do your due diligence beforehand but it’s a game of football as if you’re playing any other team. That’s not being disrespectful, you just need to face the challenges that come ahead and that’s it regardless of who you’re playing.

Do you prepare specially for a player like Christopher Nkunku?

Again, it’s not being disrespectful. I think every team ever has a chance to score and it’s being in that position at the right time and dealing with it, it doesn’t matter who it is in my opinion. It doesn’t matter if it’s him taking a shot or whoever takes a shot, if you’re playing a team in the Third Division or playing a team in the semi-final of the Europa League, you still need to save it or deal with it.

What is it about these European nights that brings out the best in this Rangers squad?

A different challenge, different stadiums. The crowd at Ibrox as everybody knows is special so probably a mixture of all that.

Has the recent runs in Europe been amongst the most satisfying parts of your career?

Well, it’s got to be. Three and half years ago I don’t think anybody thought we’d qualify for the groups and then each year we have progressed. I don’t know how we will progress again next year right enough! It’s been an unbelievable achievement for all the boys and the staff throughout the three and a half years so it’s been a good run. Whether it’s the best, I don’t know, it probably is, I don’t look back on the history of that. It’s definitely going to be up there.

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What does being at a semi-final or final at this stage of your career mean?

I never thought it was going to happen to be honest with you. I’ve said it a million times. You take each game as it comes and luckily we have done well and deserve to be here. I’m glad we are here. It will be a big occasion for the players, a big occasion for the club and we just have to go and enjoy it.

Are you making a conscious effort to savour every game and occasion? Time waits for no man, is that on your mind?

Probably after the games, I try to savour it more with the fans. Even after the game at Hampden, just walking about taking in the atmosphere. It’s something I am consciously doing now, savouring it more.