Smith calm ahead of career zenith

9:59am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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Rangers play one of the biggest games in the club's history when they face Zenit St Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday - but manager Walter Smith insists he is taking the whole occasion in his stride.

The veteran boss, 60, has guided his team from the qualifying rounds of the Champions League to the group stages of the tournament, and then through the latter rounds of the UEFA Cup to finally reach the last two of the competition.

"I don't know if the UEFA Cup final is any more stressful than any other game that we've played," he said. "I don't think it's any more stressful than the qualifying games we had for the Champions League.

He added: "I'm actually quite relaxed about getting to this stage of the UEFA Cup. We're looking forward to the game and that's the way it should be.

"I don't notice any signs of strain. They've had a few days off now and they'll be ready to go."

Around 100,000 Rangers fans are expected to descend upon Manchester in anticipation of claiming another trophy in their quest for the quadruple.

Smith added: "It's sunk in that we're here. It's getting to the stage where we want the game to start.

"It's a big thing for any team to win the UEFA Cup and when you look back at the teams which have won it recently, an excellent level of team has won it so that would be a big thing in its own right.

"It's not a thing that happens to Scottish clubs very often. It would certainly put us in the history books although we've already done that by getting to the final.

"But once you get there you want to do your utmost to win it.

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