Rangers face Zenit St Petersburg in Wednesday's Uefa Cup final aiming to secure the second of a possible four trophies this season.

The Glasgow giants have won a European trophy before - the Cup-Winners' Cup - in 1972, while the Russian champions are chasing a first European title.

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Zenit are managed by former Rangers boss Dick Advocaat.

Present manager Walter Smith is unconcerned by the critics as he aims to bring Scotland its first European trophy since Aberdeen beat Real Madrid in the 1983 Cup-Winners' Cup final.

"So far, we've had a lot of negative comments about us," said Smith. "Hopefully, that will continue through to Thursday or Friday.

"We've had a lot of situations where people say that Rangers play anti-football, rubbish football or whatever.

"But, for a first-year team, we've settled in well and, for those teams that have lost to us, if they are that good, why have they not beaten us?"

Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen and Fiorentina have been dispatched along with Sporting since Rangers qualified via their position in the Champions League group stage.

The Glasgow outfit have also already won the CIS Insurance Cup, will play Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup final and are vying with holders Celtic for the Scottish Premier League title.

It is a far cry from the struggling outfit Smith inherited from Paul Le Guen when the Scot returned for his second spell as Rangers boss.

"I honestly could not imagine that we could reach a European final so quickly," said Smith.

"I felt that, this year, if we could sustain a challenge, we could stabilise and put in a decent challenge on the domestic front, that would be a step forward for us.

"I was concerned that the European aspect came a bit early.

"That's 18 games we have played in Europe this season, 19 if you include the final.

"For ourselves, it is like another half season in the league.

"It's been fantastic, though. It has been a great test for everyone.

"We've carried a little bit of luck on the way, but we have put a lot into the games.

"We've found ourselves a bit ahead of schedule, but there are no complaints there."

When Rangers beat Dundee United on Saturday, it was their third SPL game in seven days of a packed schedule.

Exhaustion will be no excuse for Advocaat's side, who have had their fixtures postponed by a home federation anxious to help Zenit emulate CSKA Moscow's 2005 victory.

Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich were among the sides swept away in some style on the way to the final at the City of Manchester Stadium.

But Advocaat has stressed: "For me, it is important to win. Nothing else matters.

"Having come so far, we have to win the final. We are one game away from making history."

"I told the players: If we have one chance to win the Uefa Cup, this is it. With the quality we have shown, we can play against any team."

Rangers will be hoping that playing Russian opposition is a good omen, their 3-2 victory in Barcelona having been achieved against Dinamo Moscow.

The parallels with that previous success do not stop there.

Willie Waddell's team beat Sporting Lisbon on their way to the final, built their success on high work-rate and a strong defence and they were accused of playing "anti-football" - in their case by the coach of Rennes.

(BBC)

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