Group H: A war of words was the last thing Alex McLeish needed before tonight's crucial Champions League match in Oporto. The embattled Rangers manager is well aware this may be his last match at the Ibrox club's helm after a poor run of domestic form, and claims by his Porto counterpart Co Adriaanse that the Scottish champions approached him are undoubtedly an unwelcome sideshow.

Adriaanse will have done nothing to lift spirits within the visitors' camp by asserting that Rangers moved for him recently, a statement angrily denied by the Rangers chairman David Murray.

"Celtic approached me in 2000 and Rangers this year," said the Dutch manager. "I don't want to tell you the details, but Rangers were very interested in me. But I signed a contract with Porto before the summer. I am very satisfied with Porto because I have very good players here."

Murray is reluctant to sack McLeish without having a successor lined up, but has so far been unable to convince any of Europe's top managers of the merits of a move to Glasgow.

Yet, the chairman last night denied having approached Adriaanse, saying: "Alex knows who the next manager will be if he has to go. But I can assure you I've made no approach to Co Adriaanse, who is endeavouring to play mind games with Alex McLeish before such an important game. He cannot even be specific as to the who, where and when of any approach. That is because it was not made."

Rangers may yet become the first Scottish side to progress beyond the opening group stage of the Champions League, but even that achievement would be unlikely to save McLeish's job, given his recent troubles.

He has been given until the start of December to improve the team's results, but a heavy defeat tonight would surely signal the end for the man who has won seven trophies - including two league titles - during his four-year tenure.

Thomas Buffel and Dado Prso head the list of key players who will miss the match through injury, with Olivier Bernard, Nacho Novo, Federico Nieto and Julien Rodriguez also absent from the travelling party.

Guardian Service