Source: Team_Talk
Smith confident of Euro success
Walter Smith believes Rangers' performance against AEK Athens on Saturday bodes well for their forthcoming Champions League campaign.[LNB] The Ibrox side were pilloried for their European performances last season after finishing bottom of their group, scoring just two points.[LNB]However, Rangers' display in the Sydney Stadium against the Greek side has given Smith hope that better Euro results can be achieved this time around.[LNB]"I think this match can serve as a dress rehearsal for what we will face in the Champions League," Smith told the club's official website.[LNB]"Obviously there are clubs who are a level above ourselves and AEK, like Real Madrid and Manchester United, but I think playing Athens has given us a good indication of what we will face in the Champions League.[LNB]"So the fact that we countered them so well and played to our strengths was encouraging.[LNB]"I thought we played very well. We had a slow start and didn't do so well in the first 15 minutes but after that until we lost the goal when we had to chase the game we restricted their opportunities.[LNB]"We had some really good chances ourselves and we had a very good penalty claim turned down when Steven Whittaker was taken down."[LNB]After beating Blackburn and drawing with host club Sydney, Rangers looked to finish on a high but after missing a series of chances, a second half goal from AEK's Australian substitute Nathan Burns separated the teams.[LNB]However, Smith declared himself content with the trip.[LNB]He said: "Overall I was very pleased with the way we played. And that goes for the whole tournament.[LNB]"We did well in the Blackburn game - especially the first half - we played well for over an hour in this game and it was the conditions that affected us - and Sydney - in our game on Wednesday.[LNB]"So overall it was a good work out for us and the only disappointment is that we didn't win the game."[LNB]Smith revealed Lafferty is not an injury concern after the Ulsterman limped off after only half an hour with a groin strain to be replaced by John Fleck.[LNB]But Smith insists there is no real concern over the big striker.[LNB]"Lafferty is not serious," Smith told the club's official website.[LNB]"It's a groin strain similar to the injury that Andy Webster has and the pitch was probably to blame.[LNB]"We don't think he will missing for more than a couple of days."[LNB]Webster's injury allowed Madjid Bougherra to come back after his calf problem and it was the Algeria international who had the best of Rangers' chances.[LNB]Smith added: "I though Madjid was going to score. In fact he had two good chances towards the end of the first half but he is a centre half, after all.[LNB]"On another day Kenny Miller might have had two or three goals so we have to take positives.[LNB]"When you consider the way AEK played in their other two matches it was pleasing the way we played against them."
