Smith left disappointed

Rangers boss upset as side see last 16 hopes disappear

Last updated: 24th November 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Smith left disappointed

Smith: Mixed emotions

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Rangers boss Walter Smith was frustrated after seeing his side's UEFA Champions League last 16 hopes ended by Manchester United.

The Scottish champions had to settle for third place in Group C after losing 1-0 to the Red Devils while Valencia triumphed 6-1 over rock-bottom Bursaspor.

Before the match Smith had promised Rangers would adopt a more attacking approach but a host of injuries to first-team stars resulted in a return of the more familiar 5-4-1 formation.

They were unable to find a way through before United striker Wayne Rooney marked his first start since returning from injury by netting an 87th minute penalty.

While Rangers must now settle for the Europa League, at least they performed better than last year when they failed to muster a Champions League win.

Smith said: "Credit to them (his players) for the way they kept battling away.

"Man United are a fantastic team but for us there is a little bit of disappointment that a lot of hard work was for nothing in the end."

Warned

Smith also warned he needs new players in the January transfer window or Rangers could struggle in the Europa League.

He said: "We need a hand. We are in a situation tonight where we basically only have teenagers left.

"James Beattie has only had two or three days training but we had to put him in there otherwise you are a little bit embarrassed by lack of numbers.

"If we don't get any help in the January transfer window then we could have a struggle again because we are right down to the bare bones in terms of what we have.

"It will always be difficult to judge how we can do because we are in a situation where injury and suspension could affect us quite badly."

Asked if he believes he will be given that help, Smith added: "It doesn't look like it but that's the way we have been for a while and we just carry on. We need a bit of luck.

"We have lost four players tonight who would have started in the team and we can't afford to do that."

Pleased

However, Smith is pleased to see Rangers remain in Europe after Christmas this time, following a dismal Champions League campaign last year.

He added: "We are pleased by that aspect, it's an improvement on our performance last year in the Champions League and we are delighted that's the case.

"It was a poor Champions League campaign for us last year so we have improved on that and our players deserve that.

"They don't lack a determination to win the game or to do as well as they can to win the game. I don't think there are many groups of players who work as hard as our own do and it's good that we managed to achieve European football after Christmas."

Rooney grabbed the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after Steven Naismith fouled Fabio.

Smith added: "It was a game we were always going to have to work extremely hard in and they did that, our team have never been short in that respect.

"It's disappointing to lose out to that type of goal, I don't think there was any great intent by Steven Naismith to foul the player or injure the player.

"Manchester United had a couple of chances just after half-time and if they had taken one of them we maybe would not have felt so bad about it. We are just a little bit disappointed."

He added: "Territorially Manchester United had the majority of the pressure. But in the first half especially we had the two best opportunities to score.

"At the start of the second half, United had three or four opportunities and a couple of them they might have taken. If they had scored at that time, having to open up would have been a dangerous thing for us.

"In the end, we are just disappointed to lose out to that type of goal. If United carve you open, you are not happy, but you can accept that aspect of it."

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