Tymoschuk seeks spark of inspiration

Captain Anatoliy Tymoschuk hopes "some unexpected moves and pieces of individual skill" will help FC Zenit St. Petersburg unpick Rangers FC's resilient defence.

Tough nut
The 29-year-old holding midfielder is part of a Zenit side who have overcome European titans such as Villarreal CF, Olympique de Marseille, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München. However, Rangers – who have conceded just two goals since moving into the UEFA Cup from the UEFA Champions League – are likely to prove a tough nut to crack at the City of Manchester Stadium in Wednesday's UEFA Cup final.

Leverage points
"The clubs we have beaten en route to the final are European giants and we have proven with our play that we deserve to be in this final," said the Ukrainian international. "The best way to beat a packed defence is with some unexpected moves and pieces of individual skill. We just have to wait and see how we do against them. Everything we need is in our hands, our legs and our heads."

'Solid team'
ACF Fiorentina fans know how frustrating Rangers can be after losing to Walter Smith's men on penalties after 210 goalless semi-final minutes. Duly warned, Tymoschuk is taking nothing for granted, whatever the Scottish club's merciless match schedule. "They are a good, solid team," he said. "They don't score many but they also concede very few. No one qualifies for a final undeservedly."

Pogrebnyak situation
Rangers' domestic commitments are considerable. They have three Premier League games and the UEFA Cup final to play before they end their season with the Scottish Cup final against Queen of the South FC on 24 May. That schedule has tested their squad to the limit, although Zenit have had handicaps of their own. Injuries took a recent toll of their defensive ranks while ten-goal striker – the UEFA Cup's joint-top scorer – Pavel Pogrebnyak is suspended for the final.

'Deal with it'
"We have had to cope with a number of absences since the Russian league started in the spring, with a lot of injuries and suspensions," said Tymoshchuk. "We just have to try to deal with it again. I am sure that whoever plays will prove he is good enough to be in the first XI. Maybe it is even good that we have had all these problems because we all take responsibility and play as one."

Coaching presence
Former Rangers coach Dick Advocaat has helped to foster that unity and the Dutchman's decision not to take up a coaching post with Australia in the winter was a big plus for Zenit, whom he led to their first post-independence title in 2007. "Advocaat is all about discipline, trusting in his players and striving for a goal," explained Tymoschuk.

'No other way'
Tymoschuk may have won domestic championships with FC Shakhtar Donetsk and reached the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals with Ukraine, but he is relishing another occasion on the big stage. "Any final or big match is important to me in its own way so I will not make comparisons," he said. "A World Cup is a World Cup and the UEFA Cup is the UEFA Cup. We have to draw strength from our inner reserves, there is no other way for us to do well."