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Frolics in Florence will give players a new dose of energy

Sunday Mirror, May 4, 2008 by TERRY BUTCHER

PENALTY shoot-outs are not exactly my cup of tea, having suffered the agony of losing one to West Germany in a World Cup semi-final 18 years ago.

However, when Nacho Novo's deciding spot-kick screamed into the net in Florence, it was Rangers' turn to experience the ultimate emotion of joy and a place in the UEFA Cup Final.

This victory not only gives Rangers their first European final in 36 years - it also, probably more importantly, will boost their title bid.

Successive defeats to Celtic undoubtedly knocked morale and some belief will have been lost, but the possibility of this class of 2008 being the best in the club's history is still not only on track, but has been given new energy and desire.

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Reaching a major European final immediately wipes away any form of tiredness. There will be players now feeling 10 feet tall, as places in the line-up for the Manchester showpiece are up for grabs.

This season has been a rollercoaster ride and some of the football has not been top-drawer, but Walter Smith and his backroom team have produced a squad that is together, has real spirit and never knows when it is beaten.

Walter's success cannot be underestimated. He has brought back to life a club that was blindly stumbling around in the wilderness.

His reconstruction formula equated to substance over style, but his magic ingredients - passion and resilience - made sure Rangers became a hard team to beat.

Walter will never be termed as the mad professor, but he does have a winning method that can be seamlessly changed and added to when necessary. And nights like Thursday can only reinforce the players' confidence in their manager to come up with more and more success.

He has even forced the SPL to extend the season, though Rangers' fixture list defies belief even with the extra four days. In the 11 days between Celtic's last two games, Rangers will have to play three matches, one of which is the UEFA Cup Final, all away from Ibrox.

But Rangers have been in constant action for some time now and will be hugely galvanised by the semifinal result.

One man not mentioned in all the glory this week has been Kris Boyd. Yet I see him as the key figure who could take Rangers to the title.

He has been sparingly utilised this season but still remains Smith's top marksman.

Boyd does score regularly against other SPL sides and should be fresh and hungry from the time he has spent on the sidelines.

He could be the vital element that makes Walter Smith not only the manager of the decade, but in contention for a Nobel Prize!

Frolics in Florence will give players a new dose of energy

Sunday Mirror, May 4, 2008 by TERRY BUTCHER

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