Rangers star provides Walter Smith tribute in emotional interview after Europa League heroics

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Rangers captain James Tavernier has dedicated the club's progress to this year's Europa League final in memory of Wishaw's Jimmy Bell and Lanark-born Walter Smith.The Ibrox club secured progress to the showpiece event in Seville against Frankfurt with a 3-2 aggregate win at Ibrox against RB Leipzig.A 3-1 second leg win over the German club came off an emotional couple of days in Govan, following legendary kitman Bell's sudden passing this week.It will be Rangers’ fifth appearance in a European final and their first since Smith, who died in October 2021, guided them to the UEFA Cup final in 2008.Tavernier could become the fourth player to lift a European trophy as captain of a Scottish team after Celtic icon Billy McNeill, Rangers legend John Greig and Aberdeen great Willie Miller.The Lanarkshire pair were firmly in his thoughts in an emotional post-match interview.

Bell served under Smith at Ibrox and was working up until Sunday's 1-1 Premiership draw at Celtic.He said: “First and foremost we wanted to do it for Jimmy, and I’m super proud of the effort all the lads put in and all the staff and all the fans.“He will be looking down proud - so will Walter on all of us - it’s for them.

I’m absolutely delighted.“We are through to the final. Unbelievable. It was a tough test but an unbelievable feeling to be in a European final - it’s what you dream of."Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport onTwitter via@LanLiveSport, like us onFacebookor find us onInstagramfor the latest sports news, pictures and video.