Source: Team_Talk
Thompson excited by CL adventure
Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson is relishing the prospect of another crack at the Champions League, the "best club competition in the world".[LNB] The club's adventures in Europe proved to be the only blip in an otherwise successful campaign which saw them retain the SPL title and claim the Co-operative Insurance Cup.[LNB]The result which stood out above all others was a shock 4-1 defeat to Romanian side Unirea Urziceni at Ibrox, while Walter Smith's side also shipped four goals against Sevilla and finished bottom of their group.[LNB]Rangers now have the chance to make amends after clinching the SPL title and securing their place in the lucrative group stages for the new campaign.[LNB]"Going from reaching the UEFA Cup final a couple of years ago to struggling in the competition this time around was tough," said Thomson.[LNB]"Our performances weren't too bad and we played a more open game than we had done previously but maybe we got caught out with that on certain occasions.[LNB]"Even so, one of the highlights of your career should always be playing in the Champions League. It's the best club competition in the world.[LNB]"Like everything else in football, you always get another opportunity to make your mark and next season we will be in the group stages again.[LNB]"It's going to be exciting for us and we are looking forward to trying to put things right and hopefully giving a better account of ourselves.[LNB]"It's exciting to be back in there again and it's kind of like a fairytale. We're under no illusions and we know it'll be hard but we'll give it our best.[LNB]"We found ourselves in the so-called 'group of death' with Barcelona, Lyon and Stuttgart three years ago and, while it was hard, it was great to be involved in that.[LNB]"Whether we get that sort of draw again, or something kinder this time, we'll certainly relish it."[LNB]Before turning their focus to the new campaign, Rangers will be hoping to resolve what could be a summer of uncertainty at the club.[LNB]Prospective buyer Andrew Ellis says his interest remains ongoing but no takeover appears to be on the cards just yet, with several players out of contract and boss Smith still to decide whether he will remain at the helm.[LNB]As far as Thomson is concerned, the veteran manager could be the club's most important 'signing' of the summer.[LNB]The midfielder told Rangers News: "Whenever somebody comes in to buy the club, I hope they sort the manager out first because he is our biggest asset.[LNB]"After that, if they can get him tied down, there will be a real buzz at the club and I'd imagine that would entice some of the boys to stick around.[LNB]"How many players we then need to bring in isn't for me to say because I'm not the manager.[LNB]"I'm pretty sure that, in the last couple of transfer windows, the manager would have liked to bring in resources if he was able to do so.[LNB]"It's unfortunate he hasn't been able to but, if some boys are moving on and others are out of contract with different options, we are going to need new faces."
