NACHO NOVO insists Rangers should be given a helping hand for flying the flag for Scottish football in Europe this season.

The striker fired the Ibrox side into the UEFA Cup final when he kept his composure to convert the decisive penalty in a shootout against Fiorentina.

But the meeting with Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester on May 14 means Rangers now face an exhausting fixture card which will see them play eight games in 21 days, including two cup finals.

The Scottish Premier League have extended the campaign by four days but Rangers insist that extension is simply not enough.

However, Novo believes the team has the mental strength to overcome a gruelling schedule as they continue to chase four trophies.

He said: We're not happy about all these games.

This is something that is really nice for Scottish football, having a Scottish team in a European final.

There are too many games but we have a big heart and mentality and we will get on with it.'' Rangers last triumphed on the continental stage when they lifted the European Cup Winners' Cup back in 1972.

It would be nice to make history,'' added Novo.

This is such a big club and we haven't won a (European) trophy for all these years. All the boys will try to make it.

We have had big results already and it's another 90 minutes so there is nothing to be scared about.

Barry (Ferguson) has been saying that we look like a team, there is great team spirit and everyone works for each other.

Before, that feeling wasn't there and the changing room was dying. Now everybody is happy.'' Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed his appreciation of the rebuilding job undertaken by Walter Smith at Ibrox.

The club Ferguson served as a player in the late 1960s were in a state of disarray on the pitch barely 15 months ago, but Ferguson said: A year ago they were about 15 points behind Celtic, there was a big reparations job to be done.

It's not the best Rangers team in Walter's time by any measure but through organisation and team spirit - he has brought back that great Rangers thing of playing for the jersey."