Never before has there been such interest in a European club match played in July – and it is very possible that it will be decades before there is such an appetite for a Europa League first qualifying round fixture.
Such is the fervour that Steven Gerrard’s arrival has caused at Rangers, Thursday’s match at Ibrox promises to have more of the atmosphere of a May cup final than a nervy curtain raiser.
Shkupi provide the opposition for the Liverpool icon’s opening match, and while little is known about the side that finished fourth in Macedonia last season, Gerrard is well enough versed in the Gers’ recent history to know that nothing can be taken for granted.
One year ago, Pedro Caixinha’s credibility was all but destroyed before the season had even started properly as his side were dumped out of Europe by Progres Niederkorn. It might not exactly have been the beginning of the end for the Portuguese, who had fought vainly to retain credibility at the end of the previous campaign, but it proved certainly to be the point of no return.
Gerrard is, therefore, acutely aware of the pitfalls that this tie poses, particularly as he is still building his squad, with latest signings Umar Sadiq and Lassana Coulibaly – Nigeria and Mali internationals respectively – both waiting on international clearance before the game.
“We only have to go back 12 months to see that any opposition has to be respected and we have to take the test seriously. But, it is about us and us getting our team to where we need to be,” he said on Wednesday.
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And where Rangers need to be is certainly a long way from where they ended last term, 12 points distant of Celtic and relegated into third place in the Scottish Premiership by Aberdeen.
But Gerrard’s arrival has brought with it a justifiable wave of optimism, which has been buoyed further by a series of relatively high-profile additions, including Scotland internationals Allan McGregor and Jamie Murphy.
Nine new additions have been made already – and the boss has hinted he wants more.
“There’s no number on new signings to arrive, we will be ready when we decide we have a squad to challenge domestically and in Europe. Good players come in and gel quick and that is what we are looking for as we try to get the right balance and talent this team needs,” he explained.
From the work completed thus far, Rangers may not have a team to win the title, but they can at least expect to be more competitive than at any time since 2011.
Setting off on the right foot, though, is important. The Europa League is an opportunity to build a wave of momentum to carry into the league campaign, and, the board hope, a welcome supplement to their income.
Last Friday, Gerrard got his first taste of the Ibrox atmosphere as his side swept past Bury 6-0. The new signings hit the ground running, with Murphy, Nikola Katic and Scott Arfield all finding the net within 35 minutes.
Over 40,000 turned out for the friendly against the League One club, while around 10,000 more will pack in on Thursday for what they expect will be the first real step of a successful collaboration.
“I'm one of the hungriest people on this planet. The players have to match that otherwise it's pointless working together,” Gerrard said after watching his side stroll to victory last weekend.
His appetite for success, however, is dwarfed by that of the fans, who are not used to going to so long without a major trophy.
Against Shkupi, Gerrard will find out a great deal more about his new players, while the support will learn just how valid their cause for optimism is.
