We got what we deserved, says Rangers manager

Rangers manager Walter Smith and captain David Weir both conceded Rangers got what they deserved as the Light Blues were eliminated from European competition after a 2-0 Champions League defeat by Stuttgart last night.

Goals from Sebastian Rudy and Zdravko Kuzmanovic earned the Germans victory at Ibrox – inflicting Rangers’ third straight home European loss – and ended any hope the Scottish champions had of European football after Christmas.

“We weren’t good enough again tonight,” said 39-year-old Weir.

“We didn’t play well enough, didn’t put enough into the game and got what we deserved. It’s a hard level to play at and we realise we’ve got to be better.”

Weir lined up in central defence alongside 17-year-old Danny Wilson and hopes his team-mates will bounce back quickly.

“We’ve got to take positives from it,” said Weir. “Lads are getting good experience, we’ve got to get better and learn from the experience. It’s a tough lesson but we’ve got a big game on Saturday against Aberdeen.”

Smith echoed Weir’s sentiments. After Rangers also missed out on parachuting into the Europa League, Smith said: “We don’t deserve it. If we’ve played three games at home and we don’t take a point, we don’t deserve to progress.

“We’ve lost our three home games in the Champions League. When we’re at home and the onus is on us to go forward, we haven’t handled it as well as we have in the away games.”

Attacker Kris Boyd was handed his first start in the Champions League proper. The forward started a qualifying match against FK Zeta in July 2007 but has largely spent his time in the tournament kicking his heels on the bench.