“I chose a club with potential. Dick Advocaat told me his plans and I could see the potential of Zenit.

"I'm not going to go to a club just to fill my pockets. People saw me move to Russia and said I was just going there for the money.

"They said I was going to fill my pockets and that upset me a little.

"I would never have joined Zenit had I not seen the future and the potential of the club.

"If I wanted to fill my pockets I would have come back to Holland and settled back home.

"But I wanted to win things, I wanted to challenge in Europe and at Zenit this season that's exactly what we've done.

"I think we have surprised a lot of people but football in Russia is improving all the time.

"Yes there is a lot of money in the Russian league but there are a lot of good homegrown players and that is the real strength.

"We have a strong team and we are all looking forward to Wednesday night.

"It will be an emotional occasion for me, I won't try to pretend that it won't be.

"But as I said last week, my time at Rangers is in the past.

"I had a great six years in Scotland and for the most part I really enjoyed it.

"But that chapter in book is closed and I've turned the page. Life goes on and you have to adjust. I have great memories of Rangers and my time there and they will always stay with me. But I am a Zenit player now and I have to do my best for them.”