Smith accepts underdog tag

Gers have been underestimated

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 12th May 2008

walter smith

Smith: No fear

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Walter Smith has no problem with Rangers being written off ahead of their Uefa Cup final date.

The Gers are set to go head-to-head with Russian side Zenit St Petersburg at the City of Manchester Stadium on 14th May.

Smith accepts that they will once again be seen as the underdogs heading into the contest, but believes that is a tag they have revelled in this year.

They picked up positive results in UEFA Champions League ties with Barcelona, Stuttgart and Lyon, before carrying that form into the Uefa Cup and seeing off Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina on route to the final.

Smith admits that his squad are playing with no fear at present and feels that they deserve to be shown more respect for their achievements this year.

Negative

"It doesn't offend in any way, shape or form," he said.

"That is the way it has been throughout this European campaign, so we just have to accept that and get on with it.

"So far, we've had a lot of negative comments about us. Hopefully, that will continue through to Thursday or Friday.

"We've had a lot of situations where people say that Rangers play anti-football, rubbish football or whatever.

"But for a first-year team, we've settled in well and, for those teams that have lost to us, if they are that good, why have they not beaten us?

"Players make these comments and they've got to take a look at themselves."

No help

Rangers are still chasing an historic quadruple this season, but their

continued success has seen them build up a considerable backlog of fixtures.

The SPL remain reluctant to grant the club any leeway in connection with the completion of these games, but Smith is refusing to use that as a motivational tool to lift his players.

"I always say that is a poor motivation," he said.

"It may well be a motivation but it's not the greatest one. The greatest motivation is to go and win. Other things are poor motivational tools.

"As I say, I feel we are being erred against in this situation, but that is not the driving force.

"Our driving force is to try to win in all of the tournaments we're still involved in. That is what keeps us going more than anything else."

Referee

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt will take charge of Wednesday's Uefa Cup final.

Frojdfeldt has been chosen to officiate at this summer's European Championship, and took charge of Liverpool's 4-2 Champions League victory over Arsenal at Anfield on 8th April.