The Winner Of This Tie Could Go All The Way

Feb 10 2008 By Gordon Waddell In Athens

Takis Fyssas Exclusive Rangers V Panathinaikos Wednesday, Kick-Off 8pm Live Bbc 1

TAKIS FYSSAS will look around him on Wednesday at Ibrox and see two teams who crave European glory - but fear domestic abuse more.

The one-time Hearts hero, and a Greek god from their Euro 2004 triumph, can't wait to get back to Scotland as Panathinaikos jet in to take on Rangers for a place in the UEFA Cup's last 16.

And despite the shamrock on Panathinaikos' badge and their green-and-white kit he reckons the two of them could be looking in the mirror when they face off.

Because although the defender believes both teams can lift the trophy he knows it will be a hollow triumph unless they take the league title away from their most bitter rivals.

Speaking exclusively to MailSport at his club's Paiania training hideaway Fyssas revealed The Greens are under huge pressure at home after three trophyless seasons.

But under new coach Jose Peseiro they're finally in the hunt again this year.

They've turned their home back into a fortress and have their focus on Super League success above anything else. Sound familiar?

Fyssas said: "It's amazing how similar both teams are.

"We both believe we can go all the way in theUEFACup but know it is more important to win the title at home.

"That was our dream in August - the same as it was for Walter Smith's team.

"Last season was a bad one as we played poorly and lost confidence. We're supposed to be the best team in Greece along with Olympiakos.

"But after three years with nothing we need to win the championship. Our fans are expecting us to be the best.

"This season the atmosphere is different and we have a chance. That does not mean this game with Rangers means nothing to us though.

"Whoever wins this one can go all the way. It's 50-50 for me and no-one will want to play either of us in the next round because both our stadiums are so hard to win at."

After two seasons in the SPL and 58 appearances with the Jambos, Fyssas has become a staunch advocate of Scottish football. And he has told everyone in the Pana dressing room to show Gers respect.

The 34-year-old is full of questions as we speak yet still full of knowledge about who's doing what in the SPL.

He sighed: "They don't know yet in Europe how good Scottish football actually is. They still think it's poor quality - but I know it's better than they think.

"I have seen top players there in the past few years.

"And Scottish teams' results in Europe recently have made me happy because it shows me to be right.

"We played Aberdeen earlier in the UEFA Cup and they gave us a much harder game than our 3-0 win suggests.

"If you lose the first goal at the wrong time in our stadium you will never recover.

"But Rangers and Celtic have done well in Europe and Scotland came so close to getting to Euro 2008.

"I always look for Scottish results. I loved Hearts and Edinburgh. I had my baby daughter Rafaela there. My memories of Scotland are great.

"I'll speak with the coach about the Rangers game.

"I still know almost all the players at Ibrox and have a good opinion of them. In my first season in the SPL, Rangerswere not a good team.

"Hearts beat them to second place and although it was good for Scottish football I know how bad that was for them.

"But now? Different manager, different results. Same as us." Fyssas believes the Euro clash will be decided by which side deals with the other's stadium better. From a 50,000 cauldron at Ibrox to the tiny but fearsome "Welcome to Hell" reputation of the Apostolis Nikolaidis.

Hesaid: "I know wewill never take the crowd out of the game at Ibrox. I know what they are like and have told my friends this. The first minutes will be so important for us.

"We need to start the game direct. But if we can't do that the least we should do is stop Rangers. After thatwe can play.

"Then in Athens? It's hard for the opposition. The stadiummay be small, just 16,000 fans, but they are as mad as ever.

"You feel the noise. So much depends on the first game though - ifwe take a good result home we can protect it."

Fyssas has been short of starts this season after signing late and suffering more than most from Peseiro's incessant rotation system - another familiar feeling to him after Tynecastle. But the left-back insists he has no complaints as long as the team are winning.

Hesaid:"Wehave a big squad and every weekend a different 11 are playing.

"The coach has rotated less in the past month but before that we had six or seven changes for every game. Just like at Hearts.

"It's hard to understand but I'm used to it. And the results are good so he keeps going.

"This is 2008 and coaches think a player can't play well for more than three games in a row without needing a rest.

"Football has changed but that's life. It was hard for me because I came here in August when they had already done their pre-season.

"I haven't played as much as I want but that's up to the coach.

"I never cause a problem for the team but I'd love to play against Rangers."