Smith urges Rangers to have Euro belief

Updated 12.46 Wed Sep 19 2007

Keywords: Stuttgart, Walter Smith, Rangers, Champions League, football, sport

Walter Smith is calling on his Rangers players to believe in themselves as they bid to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Having overcome FK Zeta and Red Star Belgrade to qualify, the Gers kick off their Group E campaign at home to Bundesliga champions VfB Stuttgart.

While Rangers know they are the underdogs in a group which also includes Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and French champions Lyon, Walter Smith believes his new-look side can compete with the best

And while the Glasgow giants know they are the underdogs in a group which also includes Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and French champions Lyon, Smith believes his new-look side can compete with the best.

The Rangers boss said: "Barcelona are obviously favourites, they have the pedigree to be the favourites but if you're saying the champions of Germany and the champions of France are not going to put up any worthwhile opposition to Barcelona then you're taking a chance.

"We go into the section with a new team, we're a team whose challenge is to try to establish a pedigree and to do so in the Champions League is always a tough task, but it's where we want to be playing and we're hopeful we can be competitive throughout the section. I hope we start to have a belief."

Stuttgart may be determined to make an impact on Europe's premier club competition but so is Smith, having himself endured a lengthy absence from the Champions League after spells in charge of Everton and the Scotland national side.

He added: "It's great to be back. It's the top club tournament in the world, I don't think there is any doubt about that.

"The level of teams you're playing against is fantastic. I didn't think I'd get a shot at it again but I'm back at it and I hope we can do well."