Wednesday Mar 12 2008 21:46
Rangers manager Walter Smith went on a trip down Memory Lane as he looked ahead to Thursday night's UEFA Cup tie with Werder Bremen.
Recalling the occasion more than 25 years ago when, as assistant to manager Jim McLean at Dundee United, the unfashionable Scottish club achieved a 1-1 draw in the Weser Stadion to eliminate Werder from Europe 3-2 on aggregate.
Smith admitted: "The home side hit the woodwork at least five or six times, then Rudi Voller missed a golden chance in the 88th minute to force extra-time."
Of this year's encounter between the two teams, he added: "2-0 at Ibrox was a good result. We're in a commanding position, but we're not through yet.
"The tie is finely balanced. I'm not even thinking about the next round, but concentrating on tomorrow night.
"Werder will play very offensively and we have to maintain our concentration. I watched their game with Stuttgart at the weekend.
"I felt that the (6-3) score flattered Stuttgart, Werder were strong and in the game until the last few minutes."
With strikers Jean-Claude Darcheville and Daniel Cousin absent through injury, Lee McCulloch will have a late fitness test to see if he can play.
Meanwhile, Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf was positive in his outlook despite the result in Glasgow.
He said: "We need to play at our best to overcome the 2-0 deficit. Rangers have performed very well in the SPL, Champions League and UEFA Cup - but we've seen in the past that it is possible to score goals against them.
"We must focus on our own game and maintain 100 per cent concentration."
Schaaf, a one-club man since signing as a youth player in 1972, and coach of the club currently lying second in the Bundesliga since 1999, played down reports of a fall-out in Glasgow between two of his players, Aaron Hunt and Brazilian star Diego.
"The dispute is over, we look to the future. Emotions are always important during a game," he added.
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