three-and-a-half years from 1998 to December 2001, was
in ebullient mood as he looked forward to the game:
"I expect a very good game with Zenit as winners.
Rangers have had a very good season - I am aware of
their record in the League, Scottish Cup and League
Cup, as well as the UEFA Cup. I am surprised they have
reached the final, but it is a great achievement for
both clubs to be here. Rangers have achieved a great
deal without spending much money. They are a real
team. I don't think they will change their style. They
have beaten bigger sides than Zenit, just as we have
beaten bigger sides than Rangers. "
The 'Little General' also defended his old club
against accusations of 'anti-football':
"Don't make Rangers worse than they are. They are
well-organised, as we are. One cannot play teams of
the calibre of Olympique Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen
and Bayern Munich only in attack. We too had to be
well-organised defensively."
However the Dutchman added:
"Everybody in Europe is talking about the way Zenit
are playing. It's sensational - we have to be proud of
that. It was unbelievable that we could score four
goals in Munich - Bayern had lost just 22 goals in 33
games at that point."
Advocaat also addressed the question of the Rangers
Invasion of Manchester.
"I am aware that 100,000 are expected by tomorrow, but
they cannot all enter the stadium. They will perhaps
outnumber Zenit fans by three to one, but we have 150
million Russian people behind us, including the
President."
On the controversial subject of racism amongst his own
club's supporters, the Zenit Boss went on the attack:
"We have no problems with coloured players in Russia.
This is a football match, it's not about colour."
Finally, Dick swept out with a last message:
"I feel very positive about tomorrow - may the best
team win."
Walter Smith was both confident and honest as he
assessed Rangers' progress to Manchester:
"We played well in the early Champions League group
games, but then had a shaky start to our UEFA Cup
campaign against Panathinaikos. We're now in the final
- but I didn't expect to get this far.
"Zenit have had a terrific season, their semi-final
result was exceptional, one of the best in European
competition this season. Bayern are a good side, ten
points clear in the Bundesliga. Zenit are favourites
because of that result."
On the question of his own side's tactics, Smith was
non-committal:
"The final throws up a different set of circumstances
to two-legged ties. In every round we have played the
first-leg at home.
" A Rangers win would restore some credibility to our
domestic game, demonstrating that clubs can compete -
but Scottish football will go on regardless."
So now it's all eyes on the City of Manchester Stadium
tomorrow, when the Rangers players have their
opportunity to become Light Blue legends, winning a
European trophy for the first time in 36 years."