Philippe Clement insists he always believed Rangers could beat the odds to roar into the Europa League last 16.
UEFA’s number crunchers gave the Ibrox side just a 10 percent chance of making the top eight of the league phase before taking on Clement’s compatriots Union Saint Gilloise. But a 2-1 win on a tense night in Glasgow combined with favours from five games elsewhere saw the Light Blues – who started the evening sitting 13th – sensationally sneak through on goal difference.
It means Rangers bypass next month’s play-offs to move directly into the last 16, where they face a March showdown against one of Anderlecht, Bodo/Glimt, Twente or Fenerbahce. Clement said: “We knew that we were in a good situation – but you’re dependent on other results. But I’m most proud to be in the top eight with the group we faced. We had to play against four of the top teams. On the way, we played Lyon, Olympiacos, Man United and Tottenham and still qualified.
“I’m totally not busy with all these things like how much chance you have. In the past when we went with Brugge to Real Madrid and everybody said we had one percent chance. But we got results there and against Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig.
“No, it’s about believing in yourself, in the team and making a good plan, a good structure, using our qualities and stopping the opponents. 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 when we played against Tottenham and Man Utd who are massive clubs. That belief you need to have otherwise it’s no use going on the pitch.
“If you look at all the teams that finished behind us, these are really massive clubs with massive budgets. In this top eight, we played against four of them. So that makes the achievement only bigger I think.”
Clement was already down to the bare bones as he was forced to start skipper James Tavernier at centre-back. His injury issues were compounded when Leon King was forced off early, meaning kids Ross McCausland, Zak Lovelace and Paul Nsio were called on to make up the numbers.
But goals from Nico Raskin and Vaclav Cerny earned a huge victory. “I think it’s a massive achievement of all the squad,” added the boss. “And it’s really a squad achievement, not a team. It’s not 11 players or 14, 15 players.
“But all the squad has been involved. Leon had to come off with a serious concussion because he could not see anymore. Ross then came on at right-back. So we had to be very creative the last couple of months. But everybody digged in.”
On Tavernier’s switch to the centre of defence, Clement grinned: “I think he likes it. I heard some rumours that he was saying to people, ‘I can play a few years longer there!’
“Tav is a massive player and always has been for the club. We talked about him playing this position a few months before. It shows the availability of this squad.
“That everybody is in it together. There are no egos. There’s nobody only busy with himself in the dressing room.”
Clement has faced tough moments this term domestically that left him clinging to his job. But performances in Europe have convinced him Rangers are heading in the right direction.
He said: “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. That people maybe didn’t believe or didn’t realise. That they see this more and more.
“And this qualification in the Europa League is one of those things. That is a proof of that.
“So this club is on the right way. Is it fast enough to win everything? We want that.
“That’s our ambition. We need to create this culture. But I see more and more this culture also in the dressing room. That they understand what this club is about.”