Walter Smith - FROM zeroes to heroes

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Walter Smith insists the team cruelly branded one of the worst in Rangers' history have proved themselves to be one of the BEST.

 

Gers gaffer Smith piled the praise on his Treble-chasing stars ahead of tonight's Co-op Cup quarter-final clash at Kilmarnock.

 

After Sunday's storming Old Firm win over Celtic, the cup holders remain unbeaten in their best start to a season in 89 YEARS.

 

Not bad for a bunch of long-ball bruisers not fit to wear the jersey!

 

Smith said: "People are never happy.

 

"There is a happy medium in every situation, but in our country we never seem to achieve that.

 

"We were rotten and now we've been compared to really successful sides.

 

"But we ARE a successful team and we have a strong group of players.

 

"The challenge is to maintain the good start.

 

"If this team is getting compared with teams of the past then that's fine, I have no problem with that.

 

"I am as proud of this team as I am of any team I've managed in the past.

 

"Particularly because the circumstances are so different.

 

"They have a good work ethic in their play. They all work very hard.

 

"We might not have what people consider to be star players, but we do have good players spread throughout our team.

 

"They have accepted every challenge I've given them.

 

"If everyone is starting to make comparisons, that's a step forward for this team. Because in the past they haven't been regarded as half decent.

 

"The team wants to keep winning.

 

"We have a lot of awkward situations because of the predicament we are in.

 

"If you are setting out to try and win a Treble it would be very difficult for this group to handle all those games and achieve that."

 

Such is their desire and collective will to win that this Gers side NEVER knows when its beaten.

 

In five league games this season they have fallen behind. Five times they have come storming back to win.

 

But the tests just keep on coming in a hectic programme.

 

Smith added: "When teams stay together for a period of time then a spirit is forged.

 

"That's not exclusive to Rangers.

 

"Our group has played together for a number of years and in any walk of life there would be resilience if they have bonded well.

 

"Our group has done that.

 

"We've had the same group for a couple of years and they have got a strong bond. But we're asking an awful lot from the players, I realise that. This next stage, in the run-up to Christmas, will be crucial.

 

"We have quite a number of games before the end of the year so it will be a big test."

 

Smith will make several changes for tonight's clash against Killie.

 

But he expects those who come in to reach the high standards which have been set.

 

He warned: "It's about guarding against complacency.

 

"We've just finished an intense seven days after the games against Valencia and Celtic.

 

"Also, the lads who were away with Scotland played in the Czech Republic and against Spain.

 

"These games are not just tiring in a physical sense, but mentally they are very difficult.

 

"A game against Spain would be a drain on anyone especially given the manner in which they play.

 

"You need high levels of concentration for all these matches. These are big games for all the players.

 

"It helps the teams if they are not losing, but there is always motivation to win. You know you are going to face disappointments in a season - that's a certainty.

 

"We have a decent level of confidence about us, but we have to be extremely careful."

 

Gers will be without injured defender Sasa Papac at Rugby Park tonight, but Andy Webster could get a rare start.

 

Smith added: "Papac will miss the game, but we have a situation where one or two could be doing with a rest.

 

"The international lads, for example, have played a lot of football already this season.

 

"The likes of John Fleck and James Beattie will feature."

 

 

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