Smith stands by Gers defensive Euro tactics

RANGERS manager Walter Smith has mounted a forceful defence of the safety-first tactics which have taken his side to the brink of the Champions League knock-out stages.

Smith has no regrets about adopting the style of play which resulted in Rangers being accused by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi of playing “anti-football”.

And the former Scotland boss believes Rangers might have enjoyed greater European success during his first spell in charge at Ibrox, in the 1990s, if he had put the brakes on opposition teams back then.

Smith’s side have seven points from their five Group E matches to date, and another point tomorrow against Lyon would carry them into the last 16, as runners-up to Barcelona.

They have employed a 4-1-4-1 system which is designed to frustrate but features players capable of making swift breaks.

Smith said: “When I was at Rangers previously and we were involved in the Champions League I was inclined to approach the games with a very similar tactic to those that we play in the domestic league.

“Maybe at that stage I should have looked at maybe changing the tactic a little bit and becoming a little bit more difficult to beat.

“This time we have set out, and I make no bones about it, to be a difficult team to beat and so far that has held us in good stead.

“I think any team to make progress has to loosen up a little bit and we’re getting to that stage where we can approach the games in a bit more of an attacking sense.

“The basic part of it has been to make sure that we’ve been difficult to beat and then try and attack at any given time that we can and that has been successful for us so far.”

Smith saw his side win 3-0 against Lyon in France earlier in the season. The result was wholly unexpected but has been a catalyst for Rangers who are looking to join Celtic in the next round.