'Gers should stick to their style' May 12 2008
Rangers may have been criticised for their cautious approach in Europe this season - but Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat insists Walter Smith should not change his style of play when the sides clash in the UEFA Cup final.
Lionel Messi accused the Gers of playing "anti-football" against Barcelona in the Champions League earlier in the campaign, while Adrian Mutu branded the Ibrox leg of Fiorentina's semi-final "one ugly game of football".
However, Smith's tactics have paid off so far, with his team defying all the odds to overcome Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Viola in the UEFA Cup, with Zenit now all that stands between them and their first European trophy in 36 years.
And despite the opinions of some of the top players on the continent, Advocaat believes the Light Blues boss has been spot on with his approach in Europe and sees no reason why that should change.
But the former Ibrox chief is confident his troops will come out on top at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday night.
"I don't think Walter should changes his tactics," the Dutchman said when asked if he expects Rangers to be difficult to break down.
He added: "Rangers are more or less all international players and our players are as well.
"We are in the final, so I'm confident - why not?"
The Russian Football Association agreed to postpone three league matches to aid Zenit's preparation for the final, although they did play a friendly in Holland against AK Alkmaar at the weekend.
In stark contrast, the Govan club failed in their own bid for a free weekend after the Scottish Premier League refused to sanction a further extension to the season.
Smith's men won the game against Dundee United 3-1 and Advocaat - who has voiced his criticism of the SPL's handling of the situation - admitted: "If Rangers beat us then their preparations will have been better than ours so we will just have to wait and see who is right."
And he believes a Glasgow invasion in Manchester over the next few days can only aid Rangers' chances on the night.
"I expect lots more fans from Rangers than for us but that's just the way it is. We can't change that."