Barry Ferguson: UEFA Cup run will make England realise how good Rangers are

Apr 13 2008 Gavin Berry

BARRY FERGUSON reckons Rangers' stunning Euro run will finally make the English sit up and take notice of Scottish football.

The Ibrox skipper had a spell south of the border with Blackburn Rovers and knows folk in England don't have much time for our game.

But Fergie hopes that's about to change after Thursday's stunning win over Sporting Lisbon moved Gers into the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup.

Walter Smith's side are the only British club left in the competition and a win over Fiorentina would line up a dream final in Manchester onMay 14.

Ferguson's old club Blackburn were one of four Premiership outfits who started out in the UEFA Cup but were the first to fall in round one.

Spurs, Everton and Bolton then crashed out in the last 16 to leave Walter Smith and his men flying the flag for Britain.

And midfielder Ferguson hopes that has earned greater respect for the Scottish game. Celtic dumped Blackburn and Liverpool in their run to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final and that forced the English to admit the standard north of the border wasn't too shabby.

Now Ferguson hopes to line up another Euro final after the battling 2-0 win in Lisbon proved Gers have what it takes.

He said: "Maybe down the road in England they will sit up and take notice.

I would hope so. They are always saying they are the best aren't they?

"They think it's Mickey Mouse in Scotland but I would like to see them come here. The SPL is a hard league and anybody who comes up finds that out."

Ferguson watched with envy as Old Firmrivals Celtic marched all the way to Seville five years ago and would love tomatch that achievement.

Rangers only got a crack at the UEFA Cup after crashing out of the Champions League but Barry insists the tournament isn't a poor relation. The 30-year-old said: "I have never played down the UEFA Cup.

"Some of the teams in the competition are top class. Of course, the place you want to be is the Champions League but the UEFA Cup is still special to us.

"Celtic did ever so well to get to the final in Seville and it could happen to us.

"We are in the semi-final with a new team so you never know. We have a hungry squad as well. A lot of the guys haven't won too much but they got the taste of success in the CIS Cup Final.

"You can see what it means to the fans too. I had a load of pals who were over in Lisbon on Thursday.

"I knew where they were sitting and could see them jumping about daft. I am getting more and more requests for tickets with each round."

Ferguson has played some huge games against Italian opposition in his Gers career including two ties against Parma in his early days and showdowns with Inter Milan just two years ago.

Now it's Serie A cracks Fiorentina who stand between the Ibrox side and a UEFA Cup Final appearance at the City of Manchester Stadium. Ferguson will have to sit out the first leg at home through suspension but is confident his team-mates can turn on the style in his absence.

Ferguson said: "I'm looking forward to the tie but won't enjoy the first leg because I am suspended.

"We are in the semi-finals of a European competition and I have to pinch myself at times because I can't believe it.

"When you come up against Italian opposition they are always hard to score against. They play the way we play - hard to break down and solid in defence. It's the same with their national team.

"PSV were a top side and Fiorentina got past them in the last round so they must be good. The Italians have top-class players in Adrian Mutu and Christian Vieri but you never know what could happen.

"Big Lorenzo Amoruso will know all about Fiorentina as he still lives in Italy.

"I'd say we'd give him a call but knowing Lorenzo he will probably be on the phone to us first!"

Rangers' turnaround from the misery of last season has been amazing.

Ferguson looked to be on his way out of the club he loves midway through that campaign after a clash of personalities with former boss Paul Le Guen. But the flop Frenchman was axed instead, paving the way for Smith to return for a second spell at the helm.

And the Gers skipper puts this term's stunning revival down to the gaffer.

Ferguson said: "A year and a half ago it was all going down the drain.

"But now we are breaking records and getting into the semi-finals of a European competition. It's great.

"I was on the way out midway through last season and look where I am now.

"Walter came in and gave me a new lease of life. It's not just me - all the guys out there give 110 per cent.

"Sometimes we are not the best to watch but for work rate and spirit it is the best I have ever seen. Walter made me captain and I feel I have to repay him for that."

Ferguson took an injection recently in a temporary bid to solve an ankle problem but insists he isn't feeling the effects of the treatment yet.

He said: "The medics said it would take 10 to 14 days before I would feel the effects.

"I got it done two weeks ago and everything is fine."