Smith won't underestimate Bursaspor

29 September 2010 07:39
Rangers boss Walter Smith insists Bursaspor should not be written off simply because they are one of the lesser known Champions League teams.[LNB] The Scottish champions play host to their Turkish counterparts at Ibrox, where they hope to build on the point gained against Manchester United in their Group C opener.[LNB]In contrast, Bursaspor suffered a 4-0 home defeat to Valencia in their first match.[LNB]But, as far as Smith is concerned, winning the Turkish league last season and sitting top of the table this term is proof in itself that their opponents are a force to be reckoned with.[LNB]"They are not unknown to us now, we have certainly gained quite a bit of information on them over the last few weeks," he said.[LNB]"They lost their first game at home to Valencia, I watched the game and it wasn't a game that you would say was a 4-0 game.[LNB]"It was maybe a typical Champions League game, where the home side were trying to push forward and attack in the normal manner and they were caught out on a number of occasions and heavily punished.[LNB]"Maybe in the domestic games it doesn't happen quite so clinically as that.[LNB]"I would think there will be a little bit of an adjustment on their part for the rest of the Champions League games.[LNB]"They've got some very good players and have invested quite heavily in their team to win the championship. They are currently at the top of the Turkish league.[LNB]"If we were playing Galatasaray or Fenerbahce or Besiktas, then everyone would say it would be a really difficult game.[LNB]"Bursaspor have shown to be better than those sides over the last year or so and that's the standard they are at.[LNB]"I think the first appearance in the Champions League is always a very difficult one, especially at home. The home games are very dangerous against the more experienced, top European sides."[LNB]Rangers found themselves in a similar situation last year when they faced Romanians Unirea Urziceni, a team that was little known before their participation in the Champions League.[LNB]Theirs is now a name few Rangers fans are likely to forget after a shock 4-1 win at Ibrox but Smith believes Wednesday night's opponents boast more quality.[LNB]"I think they are a better side than Unirea were," he said.[LNB]"To win the championship in Turkey you have to be a strong side and they have got some very good players in their team.[LNB]"If anything, they would be a little bit stronger."

Source: Team_Talk