WALTER SMITH admits Lionel Messi was right to say his Rangers side played anti-football.

But the former Gers boss revealed he would do anything to win with the Ibrox side.

3 Lee McCuloch and Lionel Messi battle for the ball in Ibrox clash Credit: reuters

Smith’s Rangers were slammed by the Argentinian superstar after Barcelona drew 0-0 in a Champions League clash in Glasgow back in 2007.

But Smith has defended his approach. He told Record Sport: “The problem for everyone at Rangers – from the directors to the manager – is they have to find a way to win.

“Lionel Messi once said we played anti-football when I was the manager and he was 100 per cent correct.

“But I realised when entering that arena for the second time at Rangers there was a disparity in the levels.

“But you still have to find a way to try to be successful. If that means you have to be defensive then that was it.

3 Lionel Messi hit out at Rangers' tactics back in 2007 Credit: Getty Images

“Messi was right. We did play anti-football – because I didn’t have him in my team.

“What do you want me to do, come and play, get beat 7-0 and say, ‘Isn’t Lionel Messi brilliant?’”

Gers ultimately crashed out of the Champions League in that same season, however they did manage to reach the UEFA Cup Final, by adopting the same tactics.

Smith said: “We did what we had to do and got to a European final by hook or by crook.

3 Walter Smith has defended the tactics that allowed Rangers to reach the UEFA Cup Final Credit: Scottish News and Sport

“Rangers weren’t defensive in domestic games but we were defensive in our thinking in European games and maybe in games at Celtic Park.

“That’s just the adjustment you have to make because you always have to find a way to win.

“Rangers are historically a winning team, the supporters expect it. The board and the manager have to find a way to do that. It’s not easy and I don’t envy any of them but they have to try to find a way.

“And the people at the club today now have to do the same thing.

“Directors, owner, manager, somehow they have to find a way to get the club back on to a winning track.”

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