Mikhaylichenko played five years for Rangers, winning five league titles. [SNS]
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 Sport Sounds on Radio Scotland and get text updates on the BBC Sport website and app
Alexei Mikhailichenko described his trophy-winning five years at Rangers as “the best period of my career”.
But the 61-year-old will be at Hampden on Tuesday cheering on Dynamo Kyiv and believes his fellow Ukrainians can win and reach the Champions League play-off round.
“I was born in Kiev and played for Dynamo for 20 years,” he told BBC Sport Scotland. “They are my team and I have them as favourites to win in Glasgow.”
“This is the only time I won’t be fully rooting for Rangers but it’s going to be a close game.”
The first leg in Lublin, Poland, was close with the score between the two teams before Kyriel Desalle scored the equaliser with the last kick of the game.
Kyiv are unable to play their European matches at home because of the war in Ukraine, while delays to building work at Ibrox have meant Rangers have had to temporarily relocate elsewhere.
“I think Dynamo were a little bit better than Rangers and they were beaten in the draw, but at the end of the day it doesn’t make much difference to them,” Mikhaylychenko said.
“The atmosphere at Hampden is completely different to playing at Ibrox so the Dynamo will have an advantage coming to Scotland.
“For Rangers it will be more difficult playing away from Ibrox but for Dynamo every game is an away game.”
Mikhaylichenko won consecutive titles with Italian clubs Dinamo and Sampdoria before winning five consecutive titles with Rangers between 1991 and 1996.
“Rangers are the favourite team in my heart after Dynamo but unfortunately Rangers and Celtic have swapped places in the rankings since the 90s,” he added.
“Unfortunately you can’t compare the team now with the team I played for. We had some great players then, like McCoist, Durand, Gough and Laudrup.”
“I’m confident Rangers will be the number one team again. There will be ups and downs but things will turn around soon.”
Rangers memories at Celtic Park
Mikhaylychenko celebrates with Mark Hateley (left) after scoring at Celtic Park. [SNS]
Mikhailichenko led Dynamo to five trophies during his two spells as manager, including three cups with Scotland.
The first Champions League season, 1992-93, also saw Rangers memorably come within a point of reaching the final.
But his favourite game wasn’t at Ibrox, but at Celtic Park in 1994.
“The most memorable game was the New Year’s derby against Celtic,” he said. “We won 4-2, I scored two goals and Oleg Kuznetsov scored one.”
“Walter Smith and Archie Knox told everyone at training afterwards not to bother the Ukrainians for a week! But there are lots of good memories.”
Mikhaylichenko wants to take his youngest son, who was born after leaving Rangers, to Glasgow and reunite with old friends.
“We are going through difficult times in Ukraine, but our people will never give up, so either this will be a good thing or we will continue with the status quo,” he said.
“Scotland and Ukraine have a lot in common. People are very patriotic.”
