Philippe Clement insists he now has Rangers moving in the right direction after sealing a top-eight finish in the Europa League and clinching automatic progress to the last 16.
Requiring nothing less than a win against Union Saint-Gilloise to stand any chance of bypassing the play-offs, goals from Nico Raskin and Vaclav Cerny eased the Belgian’s side into a two-goal lead before Kevin Mac Allister’s halved the deficit late on.
Having held on for the 2-1 win which moved them onto the 14-point mark, the Ibrox side needed results elsewhere to go their way to make the cut on goal difference, and they were not to be denied on a night of celebration in Govan.
Rangers will now face either Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht, FC Twente or Fenerbahce in March.
Fiercely criticised last month as his side floundered in the title race, Clement believes Thursday night’s achievement proves the club are finally on the right track.
‘I said it already 100 times. It’s not about me,’ he said. ‘I know what we are doing with the club. We explained at the beginning of the season, what this club needed. And it’s not my choice. It was the choice of the board.
Clement prepares to embrace Tavernier after a wonderful night in Europe for Rangers
Nico Raskin, right, celebrates with Mohamed Diomande after Belgian put Ibrox side in front
Raskin wheels away in delight after his headed goal gave Rangers the perfect start
‘They asked me if I would want to step in to this very challenging project. In that way, we did.
‘I will be on the barricades for this club. But it’s good also that people start to see more and more.
‘The things we talked about a few months ago, people maybe didn’t believe or didn’t realise. Now they see this more and more.
‘And this qualification in the Europa League is one of those things. This is a proof of that. So, this club is on the right way.’
Short on options, Clement had to start Leon King at right back, with Ross McCausland forced to fill in that position when his team-mate went off early after a head knock.
Delighted with the way his patched-up side prevailed, Clement added: ‘We had to be very creative the last couple of months. But everybody has dug in.
‘I’m proud to be in the top eight with this group because we had to play against four of the other teams on the way … Lyon, Olympiacos, Man U and Tottenham.
‘At the end 2-0 would have been even better. But it’s a massive result.’
Vaclav Cerny runs away to celebrate after he gave Rangers a precious 2-0 lead at Ibrox
Cerny, left, thanks Cyriel Dessers for setting up what proved to be an important goal
Kevin Mac Allister scored a late goal for Union Saint-Gilloise but Rangers held on for victory
Sitting in 13th position before the game, Rangers were given a 10 per cent chance by statisticians of making the top eight.
Asked if he had a funny feeling that things might go his side’s way if they took care of their own business, Clement smiled: ‘You know me, I don’t have many funny feelings. I’m too serious for that.
‘No, I’m totally not busy with all these things, like how much chance you have. In the past when we went with Brugge (his former club) to Real Madrid, probably everybody would have said we have a one per cent chance and we get a result, or against Paris Saint-Germain or winning against Leipzig.
‘It’s about believing in yourself, in the team and making a good plan, a good structure, using our qualities and stopping the opponents to use their qualities.
‘It’s about every game believing in yourself and I believe that on the day we can win against every opponent, whoever it is.
‘That’s what the team showed also when we played against Tottenham or Man Utd who are massive clubs. That belief you need to have, otherwise it’s no use going on the pitch.’
Meanwhile, winger Rabbi Matondo has joined German club Hannover on loan until the end of the season with an option to make the move permanent.
