IT AIN'T HALF ROT MUM

PAUL LE GUEN doesn't care if he's labelled a French flop in his homeland - as long as his MUM knows he's happy.

The Rangers gaffer returns to France as a boss for the first time this week for a crunch UEFA Cup clash with Auxerre on Thursday.

However, with just six SPL wins out of 14 the jury is still out on the former Lyon supremo on both sides of the Auld Alliance - despite three title triumphs back home.

Single-minded Le Guen, though, insists he doesn't mind how anyone else paints him. All he cares about is getting the job done with Gers and making his parents proud.

The French media will be all over Le Guen this week, questioning what has become of their prodigal son since the summer.

But he shrugged: "I don't know how they've perceived what I've done with Rangers. I only really speak to my parents and friends - and they're not objective, are they?

"The others? They can say what they want - it's not my preoccupation.

"The main thing is to be able to tell my parents I feel good and that I'm well. That's my priority.

"I haven't been back to France often - just once to visit my folks. I wanted to settle in Scotland and you can only do that if you stay in the country."

The Gers boss has no choice but to go back this week. However, Auxerre's Stade de L'Abbe Deschamps doesn't hold any fears for him.

And with Auxerre sitting 14th in their league, with three wins in 13 games, Le Guen knows he's facing a team with bigger domestic problems than Rangers. But he has warned his players not to let Auxerre find any form as the Ibrox side go in search of the point they need to reach the knockout stages.

Gers are sitting pretty in Group A after wins over Livorno and Maccabi Haifa and Le Guen wants to keep the momentum going.

He said: "I won my last six games in Auxerre with Lyon so it has been a successful ground for me.

"I'm surprised they have struggled because they have a good squad and a good trainer in Jean Fernandez.

"I've played against them many times and they have a good mix of experience and youth.

"Younes Kaboul at centre-half is very good and they have quality going forward.

"There's Benoit Cheyrou and Kanga Akale in midfield and Luigi Pieroni up front.

"Theymay be down but we have to be careful they don't get their confidence up.We must be right into the game from the start."

Meanwhile, fellow Frenchman Jeremy Clement insists Rangers can throw Auxerre off their game - if they play like true SCOTS.

The 22-year-old midfielder, Le Guen's only signing success story, has been back in the fold for the last four games after a knee injury and is looking the part.

And he reckons if Gers set an SPL tempo they could kill the French stone dead.

He said: "The game back home is all about the build-up and they work their way forward much more.

Whereas in Scotland it's much more physical - there's more aerial combat and no-one EVER gives up.

"If Rangers played that kind of game against a French team then my countrymen would have a hard time coping.

"They're just not used to that rhythm, having someone coming at you all the time."

The star of France's Baby Bleus Under-21 side is also convinced Rangers are getting the mix right in midfield.

And he hopes his partnership with skipper Barry Ferguson can help Le Guen's men beat Hearts today to give the team a lift ahead of the trip to France.

He said: "Barry and I complement each other.

"Wepass the ball the same way and push forward the same way.

"We understand each other well.

"But it's important for all the new players to adapt to the style of play.

"I've been told I'm the best Rangers signing so far this season but that doesn't matter.

"All that matters is everyone getting together and playing well.

"It's a big week for us and first and foremost everyone is thinking of the Hearts game today.

"It's probably more important than the UEFA Cup match because the title is what the season is about.

"But if we get a good result against Hearts it can give us confidence in Europe

"And I'm looking forward to going to Auxerre.

"I've played three games there for Lyon and won them all.

Taken from the Sunday Mail