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'Uefa final will be different'
13/05/2008 17:23 - (SA)
Manchester - Glasgow Rangers coach Walter Smith on Tuesday said he expects a tough Uefa Cup final, which will be very different from the other games his side has played in the competition.
Rangers will face Russian club Zenit St Petersburg in Wednesday's final in the City of Manchester Stadium.
"In the other rounds, we have played our first game at home and then away and that makes it a very different match. I would have preferred it (in the previous rounds) the other way round.
"But playing just one game makes it very different and I think it will be a very tough game."
The Rangers boss, whose club earlier criticised the Scottish FA for not giving them a league break on the weekend, said they had now put the issue behind them.
"Having had a break since Saturday is probably the longest break we have had for a long time. I think we should be well-rested for the game," he said.
Smith said that he regarded Zenit as the favourites for the game.
"The way they played against Bayern must make them favourites. They did so well against such a strong side," he said.
Very good side
"Bayern are 10 points ahead in the German championship and have conceded just 20 goals in 33 Bundesliga matches and to score four against them shows that they are a very good side."
He said that his side had just one injury doubt ahead of the game in midfielder Kevin Thomson.
"He has a foot injury and we will see at the final training whether he can play or not."
Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who will miss Wednesday's final with an injury, said that the players have all stuck together.
He paid a tribute to his replacement Neil Alexander, who saved the decisive penalty in Rangers' penalty shoot-out victory in the semi-finals against Italian Serie A side Fiorentina.
"He has looked very confident and I think he will do well. If he is man of the match in the final, it might hit home that I am out, but that would mean that we won and that is more important."
- Sapa-dpa
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