Every match is away for Dynamo – Mikhailitchenko

Rangers v Dynamo Kyiv (1-1) – Champions League third qualifying round, second leg

Date: Tuesday 13 August Venue: Hampden Park Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Scotland, listen to BBC Sportsound on Radio Scotland, text updates on BBC Sport website & app

Aleksey Mikhailitchenko enjoyed five trophy-laden years with Rangers, calling it “the best time of my career”.

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.

“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.

“It’s the only time I can’t fully support Rangers… But it will be close.”

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.

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.

“I felt Dynamo were a bit better than Rangers and they were devastated by the draw, but ultimately it doesn’t make a great deal of difference to them,” said Mikhailitchenko.

“Dynamo have an advantage coming to Scotland in that the atmosphere at Hampden is completely different to playing at Ibrox.

“Playing away from Ibrox will be more difficult for Rangers, whereas every match is an away game for Dynamo.”

Mikhailitchenko won back-to-back titles with Dynamo and Sampdoria in Italy before his five-in-a-row for Rangers from 1991-96.

“Rangers, after Dynamo, are the first team in my heart but unfortunately Rangers and Celtic have swapped places since the nineties,” he added.

“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.

“I am sure Rangers will be the number one team again though, there are ups and downs and there will be an up soon.”

Mikhailitchenko, who steered Dynamo to five trophies over two spells as head coach, picked up three cups while in Scotland.

There was also a memorable run in the inaugural Champions League season 1992-93 when Rangers came within a goal of the final.

But his favourite match came not at Ibrox but Celtic Park in 1994.

“The game that stood out was the New Year derby at Celtic,” he said. “We won 4-2 and I scored twice and Oleg Kuznetsov scored one.

“Walter Smith and Archie Knox told everyone at training after that not to bother the Ukrainians for a week! There were many good memories, though.”

Mikhailitchenko will be bringing his youngest son, born after he left Rangers, to Glasgow and hopes to catch up with some old friends.

“It has been a difficult time in Ukraine but the people will never give up so either it’s a positive outcome, or we continue as we are,” he said. “There are similarities between Scotland and Ukraine – the people are so patriotic.”