The Sunday Herald

On the brink of history

Accusations of cautious, dull play are simply sour grapes. Lacking in more expansive players, Walter Smith has created a highly effective defence that works, says Michael Grant

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RANGERS SOAKED up everything Fiorentina could throw at them on Thursday evening only for another bombardment to begin within seconds of Nacho Novo's decisive kick in the penalty shoot-out. The hours after the match were spent in boisterous celebration, in breathless media interviews and in preparation for the immediate journey home and a flight to Glasgow which landed at 5am.

All the way through it the players and management's mobiles were being inundated with messages. Ally McCoist received more than anyone, needless to say. Some were offering congratulations but many were on the scrounge for tickets for the final in Manchester. "It was a world record," said the assistant manager. "153 text messages. Everyone from Laura Davies to Frankie Dettori."

Rangers have plenty of friends for a team which has found itself accused of crimes against football. The 2008 Uefa Cup final is going to have the feel of a home match; their supporters will fill almost every nook and cranny, and it will be red, white and blue banners and flags hanging all around the City of Manchester Stadium. It will be an occupation - the pocket of Zenit St Petersburg supporters will be swallowed up in the overall picture - by supporters unconcerned by the criticism and jealousy which has rained down on their club's campaign.

If there is some sort of satisfaction for Rangers' enemies in the fact their football is so unloved, that slim consolation may have to sustain them through a victory for Walter Smith's team in the final a week on Wednesday. Former Ibrox manager Dick Advocaat has Zenit playing quick, aggressive, pass-and-move attacking football which is a delight as well as proving richly rewarding for them in terms of goals.

They have scored 29 goals in 16 Uefa Cup fixtures - their 4-0 rout of Bayern Munich on Thursday was "one of the results of the season", said Smith - compared to a paltry five for Rangers in eight matches. It is remarkable that Rangers have made it to a European final on just a single handful of goals, but there is no mystery about it. The statistic which matters for them is that they have kept six clean sheets in those eight games and conceded just two goals (Zenit have let in 15).

The Russians are favourites at 8/11 to Rangers' evens and the odds are close because the bookmakers recognise the effectiveness of Rangers' exceptional defensive organisation and quality. 0-0 and 1-1 against Panathinaikos, 2-0 and 0-1 against Werder Bremen, 0-0 and 2-0 against Sporting Lisbon, a couple of 0-0s and a winning penalty shoot-out against Fiorentina: goals have been rationed in their Uefa Cup run and the reviews of been unflattering. Anti-football, ugly football, a renunciation of football: frustrated opponents have had to penetrate them with insults when they couldn't manage it with the ball.

The Italians did not think much of Rangers' tactics. A local journalist in the row in front of me in the press box opened his laptop for the first half only to spend nearly all of it updating his Facebook page. Fiorentina fans, whipped up by negative coverage of Rangers' tactics in their media, howled and jeered whenever Smith's team made square or backward passes.

As Rangers' own fans' song puts it, no-one likes them, they don't care. They lack the quality of player to succeed with a more expansive style of play and Smith's great talent has been to construct a defence which can make them effective in the Uefa Cup regardless. That may seem dreary, but it is easier said than done, and has nothing to do with luck or desperation. If football was simply about throwing bodies behind the ball then European finals would be cluttered by all sorts of humdrum sides.

What Rangers have done in Europe this season, and notably in the away ties in Bremen and Florence, is rely on planting two outstanding central defenders, Davie Weir and Carlos Cuellar, as padlocks behind a stubborn, aggressive midfield, athletic full-backs and a reliable goalkeeper (first Allan McGregor, now Neil Alexander). It has been such a solid foundation they have been able to nick three of their four ties by away goals or penalties.

It is impossible to blame Smith for using the only tactic which could have kept Rangers in Europe and he will use it yet again in Manchester. Opening up in the final might appeal to the neutrals, and certainly to Advocaat, but it would be betray the hard work and qualities which took Rangers there in the first place. And it would probably guarantee defeat.

"There's no way we could approach the final, especially against this team, with anything other than a defensive set-up," said McCoist. "They have boys up front with real pace, absolute lightning. They are the kind of team, under wee Dick, that like to be attacked, get hit and then they can batter you on the counter attack. We will not give them that worry - I can safely say that!

"People are criticising our play and that's fine because it goes with the territory. But anyone with any intelligence at all would look deeper into the situation. What the lads are doing is absolutely playing to their strengths. You've seen what happens when we try to change the game plan in any way. We opened up in Stuttgart and lost three goals and the game. We must be doing something right. We just went over to a country Italy that are the best in the world at it and we beat them at their own game. When Italians do it, it's fantastic and wonderful and when we do it it's anti-football'."

Italian teams began to conquer Europe by playing defensive football in the 1960s and it worked for Greece at Euro 2004. As they lifted their cups and medals none of those players were concerned by low marks for artistic merit and the Rangers players are similarly unaffected.

"It would be nice to get more credit," said Weir. "But at the end of the day we're going to a Uefa Cup Final. If it's not everyone's cup of tea then that's their problem. I am sure we have a few fans going to Manchester who won't be too bothered about what has been said about us."

Cuellar was similarly unapologetic. "Maybe Fiorentina were better than us, but that's life. It's not always the best team that wins. Does it annoy me? It doesn't really matter to me. We are in the final on merit. It seems to be that when a team loses, this is the type of thing they say."

Today Rangers play the first of three SPL matches which must be negotiated before Manchester. Lee McCulloch and Charlie Adam have a chance of returning against Hibs this afternoon or Motherwell on Wednesday. Even for Rangers' injured players there is no reprieve from the bombardment, though. The ticket requests keep on coming from people desperate to follow this loved and unloved team.

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Posted by: jim o'rourke, ayrshire on 10:43pm Sat 3 May 08

Well done Michael Grant. You've been able to say what you as a committed Rangers supporter wanted to say. It doesn't change the fact that Rangers played for penalties. Anti-football or what?????