Ferguson driven by 'greatest' goal

Rangers FC captain Barry Ferguson admitted feeling a sense of nervous excitement as he prepares to lead his side out against ACF Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup semi-finals knowing he is one match from his "greatest achievement as a player".

Fresh focus
Ferguson's trophy cabinet has never been short of silverware. Since making his Rangers first-team debut with a man-of-the-match performance in the last game of the 1996/97 season, he has claimed four league titles, three Scottish Cups and five League Cups in two spells in Glasgow. Yet he admits a European crown would shine brightest of all. "I've played in some great teams, with some great players," said the 30-year-old. "But if we go through this will be my greatest achievement as a player."

'Ready'
That is some statement for a man of Ferguson's calibre, but he has been waiting a long time. No other Scottish player has made more UEFA club competition appearances than him after he surpassed Kenny Dalgish's mark during Rangers' quarter-final victory against Sporting Club de Portugal in Lisbon. He was suspended last time out, forced to watch from the sidelines as Walter Smith's team ground out a goalless draw with Fiorentina at Ibrox, and returns to lead the side at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. "The first game was very close and Fiorentina have home advantage so they'll come and have a go so we have to be ready for it," Ferguson said.

Revenge served very cold
"I feel excited, nervous as well. This is a chance for us to get into the UEFA Cup final, so all the lads are excited," the Scotland international continued. "The last time we played a big European final was 30-odd years ago so we know how big it is – and we're ready for it." It is 36 years to be exact, when victory over FC Dinamo Moskva saw Rangers earn the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup at the third time of asking, having lost previous finals to FC Bayern München and, in the inaugural competition in 1960/61, Fiorentina. Asked by one journalist whether his side therefore have revenge in mind in Tuscany, Ferguson raised an eyebrow, and added: "I wasn't born then. That was a long time ago; but why not?"