Laudrup: Rangers have learned
by Brian Etherson, 02 May 2008
Former Rangers and Fiorentina star Brian Laudrup has told setantasports.com that Rangers have learned from their Champions League adventures in the past to help them reach the Uefa Cup final.
Laudrup was part of the ‘nine in a row’ squad that tried in vain to land Europe’s most prestigious trophy and in the 1992-93 season Rangers came within 90 minutes of the European Cup final, but now the side led by Walter Smith are on the brink of European success.
Laudrup believes the side he was part of was fantastic but very inexperienced in terms of playing on the biggest stage in European football.
“It just shows that maybe in the past we certainly had a fantastic team when I was at Rangers but at times in Europe or maybe all the time in Europe we played very naïve,” Laudrup told setantasports.com.
“We always went forward and tried to dictate the game and the other teams were just too clever for us.
“If you look at the Rangers side just now they know that going forward we’re not that strong, but if we can maintain a 0-0 - if we can defend well - then maybe they can hit them on the break once or twice during the game and that is exactly what Rangers have done.
“Last night the game plan was, if we can keep a clean sheet for 120 minutes, then with penalties, anything can happen and that is exactly what did happen last night.”
The Danish attacking midfielder’s career spanned 15 years, four of them at Ibrox, and he says he would love to be walking out at Manchester in 12 days time for Rangers. Whatever happens he thinks this group of players are now legends in their very own right.
Laudrup added: “I would do everything in my power to play in the Uefa Cup final for Rangers and I think these guys are legends now and you have to congratulate them and say it’s a fantastic achievement for Rangers. To get to a Uefa Cup final is very difficult because there are many good teams out there.
“It’s fantastic for me and I’m really thrilled for them.”
The quadruple is still very much on for the Ibrox side but Laudrup thinks Rangers will capitulate at some point during the impending heavy schedule of fixtures which is looming.
“I think at some point they will drop something, I would hope for Rangers that four titles in a season would be amazing,” he continued.
“Along the way you have to admit this team has really gone a long way now and you obviously get a boost from getting to a final, but at some point I think eventually that one or maybe two of the titles could be lost.
“I will keep my fingers crossed. I think that Walter would accept that maybe the Scottish Cup final win wouldn’t be achieved if he could get a hold of the most important one which is the league title, and obviously the Uefa Cup as well, but I will keep my fingers crossed for the title.”
As it stands, Smith is on the verge of his finest hour in management and Laudrup says if there was a choice over The SPL title or Uefa Cup that would be a point that Smith himself would have to answer.
“That’s a question for Walter, but in recent years Rangers have not won the league for the fans and it would be tremendous to get it back,” he added.
“I think that’s the most important one, but having said that, if you could hold on for the Uefa Cup that would be immense for Scottish football in general and obviously for Rangers in particular, but it is a difficult call that one, very difficult.”