Blackburn's Zurab backs ex- club Rangers for UEFA win

10:44am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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ZURAB Khizanishvili is confident his old club Rangers can beat Zenit St Petersburg tonight and lift the UEFA Cup.

The Rovers defender spent three years at Ibrox before making the move to East Lancashire in 2005.

And although he is currently back home in his native Georgia following the end of the Premier League season, he admitted his heart would be in Manchester, where the Gers will be battling against Dick Advocaat's Russians to win their first European trophy in 36 years.

He said: "I didn't know they were going to get to the final and I'd already booked my ticket to go back home to Georgia, otherwise, I live in Manchester, and I would have definitely been there.

"I played for Rangers for three years, but this year has been something special.

"The club will always be in my heart. I'll be so happy to watch them on the television and I hope they can get a great result."

The Georgian international was signed by Alex McLeish from Dundee in 2003, ironically as a replacement for Rovers-bound Lorenzo Amoruso, and went on to make 59 appearances for the club.

The 26-year-old played alongside both Fernando Ricksen and Barry Ferguson, who will be in direct opposition at the City of Manchester Stadium tonight.

And he believes former Rovers captain Ferguson could hold the key to Cup glory.

He added: "I'm good friends with Barry Ferguson, Nacho Novo and the goalkeeper Alan McGregor.

"Ferguson has great technique and he never loses the ball.

"I think it will be 0-0 after 90 minutes, but I'm hoping Rangers can get the win."