Bribe came before fall in Roma semi

Apr 27 2008 By Mark Guidi

RANGERS boss Walter Smith last night admitted he's still haunted by the memory of his last appearance in a European semi-final.

Smith was assistant manager at Dundee United when they came so close to toppling Italian giants Roma in the 1984 European Cup.

United won the first leg 2-0 but lost the return 3-0 in the Olympic Stadium and missed out on the chance to face Liverpool in the final.

The Tannadice side had to cope with shameful intimidation and years later it emerged Roma had tried to bribe French ref Michel Vautrot.

The defeat still rankles with Smith who hopes he doesn't suffer more agony on his return to Italy for Gers' crunch UEFA Cup semi-final second leg with Fiorentina this week.

Smith said: "It was tremendous to get so far with United. We got a great result in the first leg against Roma but it didn't work out and we went down 3-2. I felt for Jim McLean.

"I still feel for him now. It would have been some achievement to take a provincial club from Scotland to a European Cup Final.

"Losing over there left us bitterly disappointed. I felt down for days and days. Roma were a good side but it was still a hard one to take.

"I'm hoping to leave Florence on Thursday feeling happier than I did in Rome years ago.

"European football is different now as UEFA have made sure all the wee tricks and intimidation antics aren't so commonplace."

Rangers are still in with a shout of making the final after the 0-0 draw at Ibrox lastweek - and Thursday's clash will be the 18th European tie they have played this season.

It all started back on July 31 at Ibrox with a 2-0 win over FK Zeta in a Champions League second round qualifier. Since then the battling Ibrox troops have recorded six wins, six draws and four defeats.

It has been a top effort from Smith and his players and the Gers gaffer said: "We never imagined we would be involved in so many games. It is fantastic for everyone that we are so close to reaching a European final.

"Fiorentina will be difficult but we are relishing the game. It's not something we're scared of. Fiorentina will be ready but there will be a lot of pressure on them to win.

"We'll hope to go out and frustrate them and that could lead to us getting a vital away goal."