Cuellar has final in his sights April 29 2008
Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar is confident of upsetting the odds and helping Walter Smith's side into the UEFA Cup final.
The Spaniard will return to the Gers backline for Thursday's semi-final second leg against Fiorentina in Italy after missing Sunday's Old Firm derby through suspension.
The Serie A outfit are favourites to progress after a blank first leg but the Scottish giants have already knocked out Panathinaikos and Sporting Lisbon after goalless games at Ibrox.
Cuellar was badly missed at Celtic Park as the hosts won 3-2, with Smith's back four looking further exposed after fellow centre-back David Weir limped off with a groin injury early in the second half.
Weir is now a doubt for the return leg in Florence, while midfielder Steven Davis is also causing concern with a groin problem.
But Cuellar is desperate to repay Smith for the faith he has shown in him since last summer and believes they can keep the club's quadruple bid going in Italy.
"My feelings are very positive," he said. "We were very focused throughout the whole match and Fiorentina did not have too many chances to score.
"I think that we have a great opportunity to reach the final. We can win and get through in Italy."
Cuellar, who was named the Scottish Premier League Player of the Year earlier this month after his solid performances since a £2.4million move from Osasuna last summer, revealed on Monday that Smith had been a huge factor in his seamless transition to the Scottish game.
"It makes me very proud," the 26-year-old told Spanish newspaper Marca. "It is very difficult to obtain this award and it is recognition for the good season I have had.
"I have to also thank my team, who have helped me be named the best player in the Scottish league thanks to their good work.
"I arrived with high hopes and thanks to all the confidence they have given me I have adapted very well to this football. It is different to Spain and I am already totally integrated in Scotland.
"We are alive in all the competitions that we are disputing. I am playing a lot of minutes, I have played in the Champions League, we have a chance to win the UEFA Cup.
"The coach has given me a lot of confidence since that first day that I arrived in Glasgow and I am trying to respond in the best way possible.
"We are doing something very difficult and I hope to have won everything at the end of the season."
While Cuellar is clearly relishing life at Ibrox, he admits playing in Scotland is not doing his international chances much good.
He has never been capped by Spain and is unlikely to break into Luis Aragones' squad before Euro 2008.
"I don't think that anything is closed, but it is much more difficult to get in," Cuellar said.