Filipe: Cagey Gers deserve style award

May 4 2008 By Iain Collin

HIBS winger Filipe Morais insists Rangers should be praised, not pilloried, for the style of their march to the UEFA Cup final.

The Ibrox men have taken flak almost every step of their way to the glamour showdown with Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester on May 14.

The cream of the continent have been conquered but some have described manager Walter Smith's counter-attacking tactics as "anti-football" and others have decried Gers' use of only one striker, even at home.

Portugal-born Morais understands the distaste across Europe but says Rangers are right to play the way it suits them.

He said: "A lot of foreign countries like to see teams passing and creating chances, so they are criticising Rangers. But what is good football? Rangers get the results - they've done it all season in the SPL.

"It's great for Scottish football and shows that if you have the belief and are strong at the back then you have every chance."

Morais was preparing for this afternoon's fifth meeting with Gers this season. Mixu Paatelainen's men men stunned Ibrox with a 1-0 victory in October and held Rangers in the Scottish Cup in February.

But Gers have come out on top in the other clashes and Morais knows where their opponents' strengths lie - and, he hopes, how to go about getting the better of them.

He said: "Every time we've played them they've been good at the back and hard to break down.

"They build from defence and I'm a great fan of Carlos Cuellar who has been immense all season.

"We'll try and get at them in the wide areas and expose their fullbacks. If I'm playing wide I'll get crosses in behind their centre backs."

Hibs can't afford defeat if they are to maintain their bid to follow Gers into the UEFA Cup next season.

The Easter Road side's 2-1 defeat against Aberdeen at Pittodrie last weekend ensures they really need a win today if they are to have a chance of pipping Dundee United and Motherwell to third place.

Morais will take confidence from that victory at Ibrox and won't go into the match with any fear.

He said: "It was a memorable game for me and my team-mates. We know we have the ability to do that again.

"No-one has any fear whenwe face the Old Firm.We just need to go on the park and show what we can do.

"It's about being positive. Some teams maybe go out thinking they won't break Rangers down."

Smith's side have proved themselves one of the best in Europe yet Morais is not about to put Rangers on a pedestal.

He said: "I don't think they're a bigger scalp now they've reached the UEFA Cup Final.

"All credit to them for getting there but all I can think about is I've done well against them before and want to do it again.

"We want to get out there and attack them - and hopefully they will be a bit tired as well after having to play extra-time on Thursday."