Jubilant Gio van Bronckhorst insists Rangers are returning to the Champions League decided to compete with the massive weapons.
Rangers have been handed glamour journeys to Liverpool, Ajax and Napoli in Group A as reward for dumping PSV out of the competitors on Wednesday evening. It’s the primary time in 12 years that the Mild Blues have taken a seat at UEFA’s prime desk.
However van Bronckhorst is adamant is facet aren't merely there to make up the numbers and believes they'll shock the continent once more after final yr’s beautiful surge to the Europa League closing in Seville. Talking earlier than the draw, van Bronckhorst joked: “Yeah, we're going to attempt to win it now. After all you need to be aggressive. We're right here to compete, we need to compete with the perfect groups in Europe.
"It will be a troublesome problem as a result of we're going to face some large groups in Europe, like we did final yr, however it's an expertise that I'll love. I like that my gamers could have the chance to compete.
“I at all times keep in mind my first recreation within the Champions League with Feyenoord towards Juventus away and the primary 20, 25 minutes I used to be blown away by the extent and the best way Juventus performed in that point. To expertise that as a participant, you need to be very privileged as a result of not many gamers get the prospect to compete on this stage.”
Gers booked their place within the teams after grinding their well beyond Ruud van Nistelrooy’s facet to assert a 3-2 mixture win in Eindhoven. Antonio Colak was the hero together with his £40million tap-in because the Croatian striker but once more lead the road within the absence of Alfredo Morelos.
The controversial Colombian was left behind in Glasgow amid considerations over his health and dedication ranges. Contract talks for the 26-year-old - who's free to debate a transfer away subsequent summer season from January - have been placed on maintain whereas his Ibrox futures assessed.
However van Bronckhorst insists there's a means again for Morelos after difficult the sulking striker to get match and play a component in Rangers’ Euro journey. Providing the membership’s document European marksman an olive department, GVB mentioned: “I feel one of many jobs as a coach is to encourage your gamers for what lies forward and for us it was the Champions League.
“After all you will have the fireworks and the day we had. And Morelos certified for the Champions League as effectively, he certified for the Champions League as effectively. I feel he's additionally proud that he sees his team-mates and his membership qualify for the largest competitors on the earth. He's nonetheless a Rangers participant and I'll push him the best way I can to get him match and to get the Morelos again that all of us need.”
There was no signal of a petted lip after the match as Morelos joined the throng of well-wishers praising van Bronckhorst’s staff on social media. Posting on Instagram, the South American wrote: “That is my staff. Congratulations boys. We're again.”
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