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Aleksey Mikhailitchenko enjoyed five trophy-laden years with Rangers, calling it “the best time of my career”.<\/b><\/p>\n
However, the 61-year-old will be rooting for Dynamo Kyiv at Hampden on Tuesday and believes his fellow Ukrainians will prevail to reach the Champions League play-off round.<\/p>\n
“I was born in Kyiv and played for Dynamo for 20 years,” he told BBC Sport Scotland. “They are my team and I make them the favourite, even in Glasgow. <\/p>\n
“It\u2019s the only time I can’t fully support Rangers… But it will be close.”<\/p>\n
There was little to separate the teams in the first leg, with Cyriel Dessers finding an equaliser with the last kick of the ball in Lublin, Poland.<\/p>\n
Kyiv are unable to play European matches at home due to the war in Ukraine, while delayed construction work at Ibrox means Rangers are temporarily rehoused.<\/p>\n
“I felt Dynamo were a bit better than Rangers and they were devastated by the draw, but ultimately it doesn\u2019t make a great deal of difference to them,” said Mikhailitchenko.<\/p>\n
“Dynamo have an advantage coming to Scotland in that the atmosphere at Hampden is completely different to playing at Ibrox. <\/p>\n
“Playing away from Ibrox will be more difficult for Rangers, whereas every match is an away game for Dynamo.”<\/p>\n
Mikhailitchenko won back-to-back titles with Dynamo and Sampdoria in Italy before his five-in-a-row for Rangers from 1991-96.<\/p>\n
“Rangers, after Dynamo, are the first team in my heart but unfortunately Rangers and Celtic have swapped places since the nineties,” he added.<\/p>\n
“Sadly, I cannot compare the team now with the team I played in. It was full of great players, like McCoist, Durrant, Gough and Laudrup.<\/p>\n
“I am sure Rangers will be the number one team again though, there are ups and downs and there will be an up soon.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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