Sir Alex backs Rangers boss

Sir Alex has praised Rangers manager Walter Smith ahead of next Wednesday’s UEFA Cup final.

The Scottish champions meet Russian side Zenit St Petersburg at the City of Manchester Stadium on 14 May after defeating Fiorentina on penalties in the semi-final.

“It’s a fantastic achievement and I don’t know how Walter’s done it,” Sir Alex told Manchester United Radio.

“I think most people would agree that this isn’t the greatest Rangers team but Walter’s got them into the final of the UEFA Cup and they can still win four trophies.

“He’s managed to build a team that’s organised at the back and they have great team spirit. Those two qualities will get you a long way in football.”

Sir Alex, who played for Rangers between 1967 and 1969, will undoubtedly be cheering on his former side, but he expects Zenit St Petersburg to offer stern resistance.

“I couldn’t believe the other semi-final, with Zenit beating Bayern Munich 4-0. It’s going to be a very tough task for Rangers, but they’ve already knocked out some good teams like Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina.”