Betting man Dan set for Rangers clash

Posted Wednesday, November 04, 2009 by PA

Unirea Urziceni boss Dan Petrescu has revealed he made a bet with his players they would not pick up another point in the Champions League after their stunning 4-1 win over Rangers.

But it is one wager he will be more than happy to lose if the Romanian champions can deliver another blow to Rangers' European hopes when the teams meet again in Bucharest on Wednesday night.

The game is one Walter Smith's men cannot afford to lose if they are to retain any hope of progressing from the group stages but, as far as Petrescu is concerned, a repeat of Unirea's exploits in Glasgow a fortnight ago are extremely unlikely.

"I bet that they will not take any more points because Romanian teams always win a game and after that they lose the games," he said.

"Winning would be a miracle. I don't even remember the last time that a Romanian team won two consecutive Champions League games.

"I hope I lose - it is the first bet in my life that I want to lose. I hope they win."

The players head into the game in more confident mood, with Serban Varga declaring: "I hope that all of us take his money after the game."

When pointed out to him no Romanian team has won a Champions League match at home for 13 years, Varga replied: "I know this and it would be great for the morale if we won."

Rangers enjoyed an ideal start to the last game when a Pedro Mendes effort was deflected into the back of his own net by Ricardo Vilana after just two minutes before the hosts collapsed in the second half.

But Petrescu is aware a repeat of the comprehensive win is unlikely.

"We know that it will be a completely different game to the one in Glasgow, they won't treat us the way they did in that game," he added.

"They will be more aggressive and offensive than in the game in Glasgow and will come to attack. Any result is possible in the game."

Unirea are likely to be without Bruno Fernandes after he limped out of their game against Craiova with a thigh injury.

Smith insists the humbling at Ibrox was down to his Rangers players simply not being good enough on the night - and not because they underestimated their opponents.

"I don't think we are in a position to disregard anybody and we certainly didn't think that before the game," said Smith.

"We didn't play well on the evening, which is the main aspect. We didn't play the way we have done in other European games but it was not because of any disrespect for the opposition.

"We have to make sure that we try to turn that around and play in the manner we know we can. If we can do that, we have a chance.

"We have to show the way we played in the last game wasn't typical of our performances. Certainly, we played better in the other two games than we did in that game at Ibrox."