With Rangers not yet having a fully functioning player trading model, making progress in Europe remains a key pillar of sustainability.
There are no guarantees in football, however, Philippe Clement has shown in the Europa League that he can be a manager trusted to set his squad up to be hard to beat against elite level opposition.
Almost every team that Rangers played has progressed to the knockout stages – four of them in the top eight – which puts the achievement into perspective with Clement now knowing who is up next, if the journey is to continue.
Rangers learn fate a of head Europa League draw
Like a World Cup or European Championships, UEFA – for once – have shown common sense and saved fans from lengthy draws for each round.
The path to the final, should Rangers repeat the feat of 2021/21 is already laid out.
It seems unlikely, but considering the performances against Spurs and Man Utd, the teams that are left in the competition shouldn’t hold any fears for Clement and his coaching team.
New assistant manager Issame Charai will be dying to get to grips with the squad with fans eager to see if he can take Rangers to the next level.
Rangers will be away from home for the first leg of the last 16 on Thursday 6th March and at home on Thursday 13th March for a place in the quarter finals.
The next draw when Rangers will find out their opponents is on Friday 21st February.
Rangers will be drawn against either Twente, Fenerbache, Bodø/Glimt or Anderlecht.
Twente
Currently fifth in the Eredivisie, Rangers could see the return of Sam Lammers to Ibrox if the Dutch outfit are pulled out of the hat.
Solid draws against Man Utd and Fenerbahce added to late wins over Malmo and Besiktas give an idea of what they are capable of.
They also have a couple of familiar names with a Celtic connection in Gustaf Lagerbielke and Lucas Vennegoor of Hessilink.
Fenerbahce
Who wouldn’t want to see Jose Mourinho at Ibrox? There would be no return for Ryan Kent though, seeing that his contract has been ripped up.
It would be a strange twist of fate if Clement signed a player he missed out on at Brugges and one of his first games was to face a team where little went right for him.
Drew four of their games with two wins; against Union Saint Gilloise and Slavia Prague, like Twente, their 24th place league position isn’t one that should be considered as a sign that they won’t present a difficult task.
Bodo/Glimt
Rangers have been linked with Kjetil Knutsen for the manager’s job on several occasions and it would be an interesting head to head in terms of style.
Notable results were wins over Braga and Besiktas, a draw with USG and a narrow 3-2 defeat to Man Utd, again, the Norwegian league winners are a team that can cause problems.
Anderlecht
Currently one point behind USG in the Belgian Pro League, Clement will be fully aware of how the Royals are likely to set up.
They drew with Porto, beat Slavia Prague and Real Sociedad in notable Europa League results.
Again, an indication that the continent’s second tier competition is one that anyone can beat anyone in.
Can Rangers repeat the 2021/22 Europa League run to the final
Lazio and Eintracht Frankfurt are top sides and Lyon have already shown what they are capable of at Ibrox.
Would things have been different if Vaclav Cerny had scored the open goal that he was presented with though?
As with Benfica last season, Clement has shown that he isn’t the type of boss to set his team up to sit in and defend.
Rangers, as they demonstrated at Old Trafford, can be disciplined, but also willing to go toe to toe.
It would be typical of this current team if they were to fall further behind in the Scottish Premiership at the weekend and keep the Europa League dream alive on Thursday nights.
They couldn’t do it again, could they?
