EROS Grezda has warned Rangers teammate Allan McGregor that Albania will be going all out to dent Scotland’s hopes of topping their UEFA Nations League group.
The Ibrox winger has been winding up his goalkeeper about what he will be facing as he travels to Shkoder this weekend looking to give national head coach Alex McLeish a timely boost after a week of turmoil with multiple call-offs from his squad.
But Grezda has told those in his adopted homeland that the incentive for Albania to avoid relegation into pot D is motivating them to put the Scots to the sword.
"I will try to do my best against Scotland - and Allan McGregor,” Grezda said. "I have spoken to Allan about the game.
"I tried to bring his motivation down. I told him where we are playing is a bad city, with bad food and all the rest. But I was just joking obviously. It will be a good game against Scotland.
"The stadium in Shkoder is one of the best in Albania. It's really good.
"It will be good to play against Scotland. It is a big and important game for us, because we need a win. If we don't win, we could end up being relegated the to the Nations League D division.
"People may say we are already out but it's not impossible. We need to win 3-0 to still be able to go through.
"There are only three teams in our group, so that makes things a little bit complicated. But even if we don't qualify, we don't want to get relegated, so we need to beat Scotland.
"Finishing second wasn't our aim but it would still be important. In terms of first place, anything is possible still - and we will be going for the win.”
Like Scotland, Albania seem to be a different beast on their own soil than they are on their travels, and Grezda believes that home advantage may be crucial.
"We are a different team in Albania compared to away from home,” he said.
"It's like Rangers. Nobody can beat us at Ibrox. I am optimistic for the game against Scotland.
"In the first game, we had a lot of players missing - including me. But we will be a different team this time.
"This is the last game of the campaign and we need to finish on a high.
"The supporters have really got behind us in the last few years and we need to give them something to be happy about.
"It will hopefully be a great atmosphere.”
Grezda scored his first goals in Rangers colours in the rout over Motherwell last weekend, but he says he is willing to bide his time to become a regular in Steven Gerrard’s side.
"Day by day, I am starting to feel a lot better,” he said.
"The wingers have done really well at Rangers, so I just need to wait and take my chance.
"I like life in Scotland - apart from the weather. I am happy and really enjoying being at Rangers.”
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