Arthur Numan

Rangers' Dutch master

The game is played on a Saturday afternoon so we come together on Friday and do a little bit of light training.

After the training we drive to the hotel and prepare ourselves for the big game.

I share a room with Barry Ferguson which is a nightmare! No, I'm only joking - he's OK.

When I first came to Rangers (former manager) Dick Advocaat put me together in the same room with Barry and we've shared ever since - so I always have to read him a story before he goes to bed!

The night before the game is quiet. Usually we just hang around the hotel, watch TV, play cards or maybe go downstairs to the hotel bar for a cup of coffee.

We normally go to bed round about midnight.

In the morning we wake up and have breakfast. I will have some slices of bread with some cheese or jam. Maybe some cereal with milk and a banana.

I don't like to eat much. I can't eat spaghetti with sauce for instance - it makes me ill.

But sometimes I'm surprised when I look around me and see the disgusting things the Scottish players eat at 8:30 in the morning!

Beans, scrambled eggs, sausages, black pudding and toast covered in brown sauce!

I think, 'How can you play in the cup final with that in your stomach?' I'm almost throwing up on the table!

Sometimes I'll ask them, 'How can you eat something like that 3 hours before kick off?' But they just say, 'It's nice!'

I've walked away from the table before because I cannot bear the smell!

After breakfast we have a team talk and then comes the moment everyone has been waiting for - the gaffer names the 11 players who will start the Cup Final!

Then we'll talk a little bit about the opposition and drive in the team bus to the game.

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