Rangers Are Tougher Than AC Milan

Mar 16 2008

JAPANESE star Shunsuke Nakamura reckons Rangers are going to be harder to beat than last year's European Champions AC Milan.

The midfielder has been impressed with Walter Smith's side this season and rates them as being every bit as good as the Italian giants.

Celtic have taken on Milan twice this season - winning at Parkhead before losing 1-0 in the San Siro in December.

The Hoops have only played Rangers once this term with the Light Blues chalking up a comfortable 3-0 win at Ibrox in October.

Naka knows it will now take a huge effort to overcome the league leaders in the three remaining Old Fiurm fixtures this season - the games that will ultimately decide the title race.

He said: "Rangers are stronger than the teams we faced in our Champions League group this season.

"They have a strong team with strong substitutes.

"When I came here they were not so good but under Walter Smith they are better organised and more tactically aware which all blends in well with their natural ability.

"There is a good mix now in their squad and they are harder to beat than before.

"But I still believe we can win the league and the cup. We have the energy to do it."

Meanwhile, Naka could be called up to the Japan squad for this month's World Cup qualifier in Bahrain if Celtic's clash with Gretna is called off.

The 29-year-old was left out of the squad for theMarch 26 game as Celtic are due to play at Gretna three days earlier.

But with the Borders club on the brink, Japan plan to include Nakamura if the Gretna game is scrapped.