Smith: 'make me proud'

Updated 15.12 Sat Apr 12 2008

Keywords: walter smith, uefa cup, rangers

Rangers manager Walter Smith says reaching the Uefa Cup final would be one of the proudest moments of his career.

The Ibrox club have booked their place in the last four of the competition for the first time - and their first European semi-final for 36 years - after defeating Sporting Lisbon 2-0 in their own back yard.

Rangers have booked their place in the last four of the competition for the first time

Goals from Jean-Claude Darcheville and Steven Whittaker in the Jose Alvalade Stadium saw Rangers safely through.

Smith was the driving force behind the 'nine in a row' campaign and insists going all the way in Europe this season would rank right up there with the best of his achievements.

"It will be [one of my proudest moments] if we manage to get to the final."

Rangers now face the prospect of playing a gruelling four games - the double header against Fiorentina, Celtic and Hibernian - in the space of eight days.

Celtic have already voiced their opposition to the Scottish Premier League extending the season, with chief executive Peter Lawwell claiming the integrity of the league would be compromised.

Smith said: "We just have to face that if that's the situation we're placed in, we'll just have to play them.

"We will maybe have to play the four games in a week. I'm just delighted we've managed to get to a semi-final and we will just get over any hurdles we have to get over to get the games played."