At the same time as the club was enjoying a high standing Scottish football, McLean was gradually building the club's reputation in Europe, the counter-attacking style which he had developed proving ideally suited to that stage.
At the same time as the club was enjoying a high standing Scottish football, McLean was gradually building the club's reputation in Europe, with impressive wins over sides like AS Monaco, Borussia Moenchengladbach, PSV Eindhoven, Anderlecht and Werder Bremen. The counter-attacking style which he had developed proving ideally suited to that stage.