Smith refuses to blame SPL

Gers boss looks to future; Cuellar slams congestion

Last updated: 15th May 2008

Walter Smith Rangers boss ahead of Uefa Cup final

Smith: Does not blame SPL

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Rangers manager Walter Smith is refusing to blame the Scottish Premier League for his side's Uefa Cup final defeat to Zenit St Petersburg.

Gers suffered a 2-0 loss at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday night as their quest for an unprecedented quadruple came to an end.

Smith's side had originally appealed for their weekend game against Dundee United to be called off in preparation for the European fixture; however their request was turned down.

Smith, though, is reluctant to hold the SPL responsible for his team's disappointment as he looks to ready his men for the final three league games of the season and the Scottish FA Cup against Queen of the South.

64th game

"I don't think the thing with the SPL had an effect on the game. We would have liked to have cleared our heads a little bit but it didn't have an influence on the players, they were ready to play," Smith said.

"We don't have any winter breaks in Britain, that was our 64th game this season, we have four more left so when you add that a lot of the players play at international level it's a lot of games but that's what the players have to do and it didn't affect the result."

However, defender Carlos Cuellar has hit out at the SPL's decision to reject their request.

Crazy

Cuellar said: "All we needed was the SPL to help us make history by extending the season by one week only but I don't know why they didn't want to help us win this trophy.

"We have had too many games in such a short space of time and it is crazy. We had a very good chance to win a European trophy but the SPL did not want to help us.

"I don't understand why that was and if we had not played Dundee United on Saturday, I think we would have looked more comfortable."