There may have been an air of flippancy, or maybe his words were somewhat lost in translation, but Jose Peseiro did not seem entirely genuine when probed about Rangers.
The Panathinaikos coach shared his thoughts last night after his side underwent a training session at Ibrox ahead of this evening's UEFA Cup last 32 tie. While his intelligence has suggested the Scots are a side of some repute, the Portuguese coach appeared less convinced by their potential as winners of the trophy.
Asked if Walter Smith's team were among those he considered contenders for the big vase, Peseiro replied: "Sure, why not? Rangers and Panathinaikos."
Regardless of his possible disingenuity, the coach of the Greek outfit admitted that he had been impressed by the displays of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders in this season's Champions League groups stages against Barcelona, Olympique Lyonnais and VfB Stuttgart. That said, the bold Peseiro still expects his team, whose away form pays scant heed to the theory that Greeks do not travel well, to not only triumph in the tie, but also in Glasgow tonight.
"Every coach goes in to games wanting to win and I expect to win," he stated, his sincerity in little doubt this time. "It will be a difficult game and I respect Rangers. We have done some scouting and I have watched four or five games. I have seen Rangers play very well in the first stage of the Champions League. But despite the quality of the players and the coach we believe it is possible to win here."
Such confidence is understandable. Top of their domestic league, their form has been such that close rivals AEK Athens sacked Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, their Spanish coach, last night following their failure to maintain the pace. The season may still have some way to run, but Panathinaikos appear determined to celebrate their centenary in some style.
The side which swept aside Aberdeen in Athens earlier in the campaign has been calcified by some astute January shopping. Helder Postiga, the former Tottenham and Porto striker, Nikos Spyropoulous, a Greek international defender and, most intriguingly Manucho, Manchester United's new Angolan attacker, have been added to the pool, presenting yet more options to a side strong enough to overwhelm Jimmy Calderwood's team.
Peseiro, though, appreciates that Rangers will provide a tougher test than the listless Pittodrie club. "We have done some scouting and Rangers are a better team," he said. "When we think about football in Scotland we think about long passes.
But Rangers also have the capability to fight and they have strength in their game."
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