2013-04-16 10:05:26 +02:00

533 lines
19 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File

sport
football
teams
rangers
8377149
-----
# Rangers manager Walter Smith focused on closing gap on Celtic not Europa
League glory
## A farewell flourish in Dublin, of all places, remains a possibility for
Walter Smith, who would take his leave of Rangers in the Europa League final
should the Ibrox side make it that far, but the manager - who retires at the
end of this season - is not harbouring thoughts of a trip to the Irish capital
and a second European final in three years.
![Rangers manager Walter Smith focused on closing gap on Celtic not Europa
League glory][1]
Eyes on the prize: Rangers manager Walter Smith looks on at the Philips
Stadion in Eindhoven Photo: ACTION IMAGES
[![Roddy Forsyth][2]][3]
By [Roddy Forsyth][4] 11:00PM GMT 11 Mar 2011
[Comments][5]
Rangers' goalless draw with PSV in Eindhoven on Thursday night has put them in
a strong position to proceed to the quarter-finals and some fans and observers
have begun to compare this season's run to the team's exploits in 2008, when
they played a total of 19 European games, culminating in a 2-0 defeat by Zenit
St Petersburg in Manchester. Smith, though, does not view the two campaigns as
parallels.
"Dublin has not crossed my mind," he said on Friday, on Rangers' return from
Holland. "The previous time, once we started to get on a run in the Uefa Cup
and with the players we had then, you started to think it might be possible -
with a bit of luck.
"We had that luck in Bremen when they made an awful lot of chances but didn't
finish us off. So it never crossed my mind that reaching a European final was
a situation that was going to occur again, but it is my job as a manager to
try and make it happen.
"As you get through, the level of opposition gets better so, for us,
especially this year with a smaller squad, I would never really think that
Dublin would be possible - but you never know.
"I would say if we get through this round to the last eight then it would be
quite an achievement."
## Related Articles
* [Revealed: full scale of Old Firm football 'madness'][6]
11 Mar 2011
* [McCoist: I did not challenge Lennon to a fight][7]
10 Mar 2011
* [PSV Eindhoven 0 Rangers 0][8]
10 Mar 2011
* [Exclusive: police threaten Old Firm][9]
07 Mar 2011
* [Old Firm players and managers face arrest][10]
09 Mar 2011
* [Old Firm aim to curb derby turmoil][11]
08 Mar 2011
The tie against Eindhoven differs from the previous round against Sporting
Lisbon and also Rangers' 2008 run in one important respect. Smith and his
players have generally prospered from playing the first leg at home but it is
they, on this occasion, who could fall foul of the away goals rule, as the
manager acknowledged.
"The home game can be the problem in Europe for us. There is a bit more
pressure on us at Ibrox to attack especially when it is the second leg. We
have to go and try and win the game," he said.
"We probably are a better team in Europe away than we are at home. We've had
the away games second in all the European ties we've had in the last three
years.
"So next week is a little bit different and I just hope we can make the
adjustment and put a bit more pressure on PSV - without leaving ourselves open
to their quicker players."
Having been knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Celtic in the previous round,
the modest consolation for Smith is that Rangers play Kilmarnock at home on
Sunday in one of the SPL fixtures that was a casualty of severe winter
weather.
"It's good to get at least one of these fixtures out of the way and we know
that if we win we close the gap on Celtic at the top of the table," said the
Ibrox manager.
"However, Kilmarnock have been on a good run and last weekend they had a
terrific result at Tynecastle, a difficult place for any team to go to. They
won there and played some very good football.
"We will have Nikica Jelavic back on Sunday and I hope Sasa Papac will also be
ok to play after his head injury. For the first time in a few weeks we have a
chance to freshen up our team a little bit when you consider Vladimir Weiss
only played 20 minutes against PSV having come back from injury.
"Getting these lads back will hopefully give us a wee lift before what is a
very big game for us. We have been two or three games behind in the league
recently and it doesn't always give a true reflection on where you stand and
where the championship is."
One Rangers player who has attracted attention for a run of impressive
performances is Kyle Bartley, the 19-year-old defender on loan from Arsenal,
of whom Smith said: "I don't know if there's a chance of Bartley being here
next season.
"It is nice for him to get a level of experience , of course. He played on the
left of the back three and he's more comfortable on the right but he has done
well, but I'd stress he is Arsenal's player.
"From his point of view I guess at some stage he will want a commitment from
his club to his career, because he's a good player and I believe he will do
very well in the game."
[X][12] Share & bookmark
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
[What are these?][13]
* Share: [Share][12] [ ][14] [ ][15]
[Tweet][16]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/8377149/Rangers-
manager-Walter-Smith-focused-on-closing-gap-on-Celtic-not-Europa-League-
glory.html
Telegraph
## [Rangers][17]
* ### [Sport »][18]
* ### [Football »][19]
* ### [Scottish Premier »][20]
* ### [Europa League »][21]
* ### [Football News »][22]
In sport
[![Rangers face Uefa disciplinary action over fans chanting during Europa
League clash against PSV Eindhoven][23] ][24]
### [Rangers face Uefa disciplinary action][24]
[![Walter Smith warns Rangers face 'drastic consequences' unless fans stop
sectarian chants][25] ][26]
### [Walter Smith makes plea to Rangers fans][26]
[![Rangers can thank David Murray for keeping Robert Maxwell at bay ][27]
][28]
### [Rangers can thank David Murray][28]
[![Walter Smith backs returning Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty to end season on
a high][29] ][30]
### [Lafferty 'can end season on high'][30]
[X][12] Share & bookmark
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
[What are these?][13]
Share:
* [ ][12]
* [ ][14]
* [ ][15]
* [Tweet][16]
* Advertisement
![][31]
telegraphuk
Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.][32] [blog
comments powered by Disqus][33]
## [Rangers »][34]
[![Rangers][35]][17]
[Rangers Action Photos][36]
[Rangers Fixtures][37]
[Rangers Results][38]
[Rangers Players][39]
Advertisement
[PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS »][40]
Most viewed
* TODAY
* PAST WEEK
* PAST MONTH
1. [Father of diving champion Tom Daley loses battle with cancer][41]
2. [Champions League final 2011: Sir Alex Ferguson has Manchester United
primed for date with destiny][42]
3. [Guus Hiddink expecting the call from Roman Abramovich to take over at
Chelsea][43]
4. [Champions League final 2011: I was told to keep Manchester United move
secret, says Javier Hernandez][44]
5. [Champions League final: Johan Cruyff believes Barcelona coach Pep
Guardiola could walk away after Wembley][45]
1. [Premier League Transfer Talk][46]
2. [Ryan Giggs back in limelight for Gary Neville's testimonial at Old
Trafford][47]
3. [Champions League final 2011: Manchester United work on radical fall-back
strategy if Barcelona take lead][48]
4. [Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson goes on defensive in wake of
Ryan Giggs Twitter furore][49]
5. [England v Sri Lanka: first Test live][50]
1. [Premier League Transfer Talk][46]
2. [Ryan Giggs back in limelight for Gary Neville's testimonial at Old
Trafford][47]
3. [Belgium's Wouter Weylandt killed in Giro d'Italia crash][51]
4. [Champions League final 2011: Manchester United work on radical fall-back
strategy if Barcelona take lead][48]
5. [Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hijacks 26m Man City deal
for Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez][52]
Advertisement
Classified Advertising
* [Engineering Jobs][53]
* [Cars][54]
* [Games][55]
Loading
[Find your ideal job with Telegraph Jobs][56]
var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "668730"; var headline
= "Instrumentation and Control Engineer"; var description = "Berkshire On
Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/668730/permanent/berkshire/instrumentation-
and-control-engineer-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=668730"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/67/C1/67297E9F-24CA-4855-ABCA-
E1BA0C66D3C1_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"673412"; var headline = "Operations Director"; var description = "High
Wycombe £65000 - £70000"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/673412/permanent/high-wycombe/operations-
director-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=673412"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/F5/7E/F5F2C423-D84E-476C-
BA94-3C2663E87A7E_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3";
puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description,
'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray =
eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "669237"; var headline = "Power
Electronics System Design & Test Engineer"; var description = "Chelmsford On
Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669237/permanent/chelmsford/power-
electronics-system-design-test-engineer-job-
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669237"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"673197"; var headline = "Head of Tunnels and Structures"; var description =
"London On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/673197/permanent/london/head-of-tunnels-and-
structures-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=673197"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/DC/C4/DC97BBEE-5BEE-4B8F-808F-
5F406B9EA5C4_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"668217"; var headline = "Project & Production Engineers"; var description =
"Storrington On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/668217/permanent/storrington/project-
production-engineers-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=668217"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/18/0D/1854E1E4-0C20-4EB8-9292-CD
216D0AAD0D_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"669239"; var headline = "Chief Engineer - Strategic Programmes"; var
description = "Chelsmford On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669239/permanent/chelsmford/chief-engineer-
strategic-programmes-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669239"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"663501"; var headline = "ENGINEERING MANAGER, KENT"; var description = "Kent
£60000 - £65000"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/663501/permanent/kent/engineering-manager-
kent-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=663501"; var imageUrl = "http://
jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/B6/46/B6E34F1D-0404-41A1-A940-BAC94E2BB846_140_87-v
2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline,
'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight});
var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "669090"; var headline
= "Engineering Opportunities with e2v"; var description = "United Kingdom On
Application"; var link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669090/permanent
/united-kingdom/engineering-opportunities-with-e2v-job-
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669090"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"669475"; var headline = "FEA Engineer"; var description = "Stonehouse On
Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669475/permanent/stonehouse/fea-engineer-job-
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669475"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/F4/1C/F4E5E3E5-E431-4211-8E3F-
FE8AA4CCE91C_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight});
[1]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01846/smith_1846968c.jpg
[2]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01865/Roddy-
Forsyth_60_1865942j.jpg
[3]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/roddyforsyth/
[4]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/roddyforsyth/ (Roddy
Forsyth)
[5]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/8377149
/Rangers-manager-Walter-Smith-focused-on-closing-gap-on-Celtic-not-Europa-
League-glory.html#disqus_thread
[6]: /news/uknews/scotland/8376041/Revealed-full-scale-of-Old-Firm-
football-madness.html
[7]: /sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/8374330/Neil-Lennon-and-
Ally-McCoist-banned-over-touchline-confrontation-during-Celtics-win-over-
Rangers.html
[8]: /sport/football/competitions/europa-league/8371732/PSV-
Eindhoven-0-Rangers-0-match-report.html
[9]: /sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/8366900/Police-poised-
to-act-if-Rangers-and-Celtic-behave-in-provocative-fashion-in-League-Cup-
final-at-Hampden-Park.html
[10]: /news/uknews/scotland/8370697/Old-Firm-players-and-managers-face-
arrest.html
[11]: /sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/8369897/Old-Firm-agree-
six-point-plan-to-curb-derby-turmoil.html
[12]: #
[13]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4590190/Share-this-
article-What-are-these.html
[14]: mailto:?subject=A Telegraph reader thought you would be interested in
this article&body=Depending on your email program, you may be able to click on
the link in the email. Alternatively, you may have to open a web browser, such
as Firefox or Internet Explorer, and copy the link over into the address bar.
%0A%0Ahttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/8377149/Rangers-
manager-Walter-Smith-focused-on-closing-gap-on-Celtic-not-Europa-League-
glory.html %0A%0AFor the best content online, visit www.telegraph.co.uk
[15]: javascript:print()
[16]: http://twitter.com/share?via=Telegraph
[17]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/
[18]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/
[19]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/
[20]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/scottish-
premier/
[21]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/europa-league/
[22]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/news/
[23]:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01866/rangers_1866656g.jpg
[24]: /sport/football/teams/rangers/8434302/Rangers-face-Uefa-disciplinary-
action-over-fans-chanting-during-Europa-League-clash-against-PSV-
Eindhoven.html
[25]:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01868/rangers_1868131g.jpg
[26]: /sport/football/teams/rangers/8438098/Walter-Smith-warns-Rangers-
face-drastic-consequences-unless-fans-stop-sectarian-chants.html
[27]:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01867/david_murray_1867332g.jpg
[28]: /sport/football/teams/rangers/8435944/Rangers-can-thank-David-Murray-
for-keeping-Robert-Maxwell-at-bay.html
[29]:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01866/lafferty_1866031g.jpg
[30]: /sport/football/teams/rangers/8432488/Walter-Smith-backs-returning-
Rangers-striker-Kyle-Lafferty-to-end-season-on-a-high.html
[31]: http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/imp.gif?client=ca-
telegraph_uk_420x200&event=noscript
[32]: http://disqus.com/?ref_noscript=telegraphuk
[33]: http://disqus.com
[34]:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/rangers/
[35]:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01508/rangers_1508970h.jpg
[36]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/ran
gers/6397513/Rangers-Football-Club-Action-Photos.html
[37]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/ran
gers/6397391/Rangers-Football-Club-Fixtures.html
[38]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/ran
gers/6397888/Rangers-Football-Club-Results.html
[39]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/ran
gers/6398034/Rangers-Football-Club-Players.html
[40]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-
league/8229445/Barclays-Premier-League-video-highlights.html
[41]: /sport/othersports/diving/8543435/Father-of-diving-champion-Tom-
Daley-loses-battle-with-cancer.html
[42]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8543179/Champions-League-
final-2011-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-has-Manchester-United-primed-for-date-with-
destiny.html
[43]: /sport/football/teams/chelsea/8542767/Guus-Hiddink-expecting-the-
call-from-Roman-Abramovich-to-take-over-at-Chelsea.html
[44]: /sport/football/competitions/champions-league/8541804/Champions-
League-final-2011-I-was-told-to-keep-Manchester-United-move-secret-says-
Javier-Hernandez.html
[45]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8543194/Champions-League-
final-Johan-Cruyff-believes-Barcelona-coach-Pep-Guardiola-could-walk-away-
after-Wembley.html
[46]: /sport/football/competitions/premier-league/2432939/Premier-League-
Transfer-Talk-Club-by-club-Football-Transfers-Football-Rumours-January-31.html
[47]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8534498/Ryan-Giggs-back-in-
limelight-for-Gary-Nevilles-testimonial-at-Old-Trafford.html
[48]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8539024/Champions-League-
final-2011-Manchester-United-work-on-radical-fall-back-strategy-if-Barcelona-
take-lead.html
[49]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8531993/Manchester-United-
manager-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-goes-on-defensive-in-wake-of-Ryan-Giggs-Twitter-
furore.html
[50]: /sport/cricket/international/england/8537593/England-v-Sri-Lanka-
first-Test-live.html
[51]: /sport/othersports/cycling/8502991/Belgiums-Wouter-Weylandt-killed-
in-Giro-dItalia-crash.html
[52]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8485925/Manchester-United-
manager-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-hijacks-26m-Man-City-deal-for-Udinese-winger-Alexis-
Sanchez.html
[53]: #configurableTab_8257595
[54]: #configurableTab_8120678
[55]: #configurableTab_8255335
[56]: http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/?utm_source=TMG&utm_medium=CS&utm_campaig
n=jobslink