Rangers boss disappointed with loss to Manchester United
Rangers manager Walter Smith says that he is disappointed after his side lost to Manchester United, sending the Scottish Premier League champions crashing out of the UEFA Champions League.
United picked up all three points in the group stage match at Ibrox on Wednesday 24 November after Wayne Rooney, who was making his first start for the English Premier League giants since September, thumped home a penalty after Rangers attacker, Steven Naismith,
was deemed to have fouled defender Fabio da Silva inside the penalty area.
The result, coupled with Spanish outfit Valencia's 6-1 demolition of Turkish champions Bursaspor, means that Rangers have dropped out of the Champions League with one game to play (as they are five points behind fifth-placed Valencia).
But as Bursaspor have yet to pick up any points and Rangers have five, they will drop down into the UEFA Europa League knockout stages after Christmas.
Despite achieving the goal of remaining in European competition, Smith was in no mood to celebrate as he spoke to ITV Sport and questioned the referee's decision to award a penalty.
"It's disappointing to lose out to that type of goal. I don't think there was any great intent in Steven Naismith's challenge. The ball comes over the top and he just hooks round. Manchester United had a couple of chances just after half-time. If maybe they
had got one of them, we might not of felt as bad. It's disappointing, the amount of effort our boys have to put in to get anywhere near that result.
"Staying in Europe after Christmas is something we would hope to achieve and we have achieved that now, so we are happy in one respect. But as I say, it is a little bit disappointing tonight, although you must say that Manchester United had the vast majority
of the pressure."
Tags: