BARRY FERGUSON wanted the ground to open up and swallow him as he watched Sebsatien Frey leap to his right and save the first kick of a penalty shoot-out with Fiorentina that would decide the Uefa Cup finalists.

But that feeling of personal agony soon turned into unbridled joy when he watched his team-mates do the business and book their place at the City of Manchester Stadium on May 14.

The skipper said: "I can't describe how bad I felt. I had an image of coming back on the plane and then going and jumping off the Kingston Bridge.

"I never took a penalty in the CIS Cup shoot-out so I decided to go up first. I thought I had made a decent effort and, having looked at it again on TV, I feel their keeper made a good save.

"It's a long walk back to the boys after that. But, to be fair, they have bailed me out and the other four boys all stuck their kicks away.

"Neilly then made a save and they missed another one. What a feeling, it was just amazing to go through.

"I am still coming to terms with it - Rangers in a Uefa Cup Final, it's just great for the club and the fans.

"I must have had about 100 text messages waiting for me when I got back to the dressing room. The rest of the boys were the same, it's just incredible."

Ferguson will now come face-to-face with the man who handed him his break at Rangers when he contests the final in 12 days' time against Dick Advocaat's Zenit side.

"I have a lot of time for Dick Advocaat, he's a great coach and he gave me my chance - but I want that trophy," said Barry.

"It's down to 90 minutes now, both sides will be desperate, and it will be tough against them as they are a good team.

"But it will be nice to see Dick and Fernando Ricksen again, and it's going to come round very quickly."