Rangers have made a habit out of progressing into the knockout stages of the Europa League, not only that, but they tend to hold their own when they get there too.
Last season, the Champions League campaign was a disaster, however, there were mitigating circumstances, not that they helped to make the disappointment any more palatable.
To say that Rangers are a Europa League club based on last year does a disservice to a club that has our record at Ibrox in Europe, even more so when you look at the teams in the Champions League who are progressing to the next round.
Rangers must strive to move on from Europa League comfort zone
Obviously, squads change and managers change but there is a recurring theme across the last five or six years playing on the continent.
Even amidst the Champions League disaster, Giovanni van Bronckhorst saw off Union Saint Gilloise and PSV Eindhoven, both of whom then went on to enjoy progress in the Europa League.
Rangers may be able to hold their own in the second tier Europa League but, there is no reason why, if they can get back in, that a Champions League run isn’t realistic.
Look at the teams Rangers have beaten in the Europa League or, at least got results off and how they are doing in the Champions League group stages this year;
Galatasary, sitting third above Man Utd and favourites to progress.
PSV Eindhoven, qualified in second place.
Napoli, second.
Braga, third and a possible opponent again.
Feyenoord, third.
Borussia Dortmund, first.
RB Leipzig, second.
Young Boys, third.
Porto, second.
You get the picture.
Rangers can compete with these teams, either in the Europa League or Champions League, it shouldn’t matter what the competition is.
Just not with Leon King and James Sands or John Lundstram at centre-half with a double pivot in midfield with a combined age of 71.
The difference, is that some of the teams we have beaten in group stage or knockout games have soundly beaten Celtic.
RB Leipzig, Sparta Prague, Real Betis, Feyenoord and Mitdjylland, have all been beaten by us but then seen off Celtic, comfortably.
There will always be the odd dip against the likes of Aris Limassol, even Barcelona and Real Madrid have suffered embarrassing defeats in recent years.
If Philippe Clement can guide his team to a result against Real Betis then it will be another step in the right direction.
Rangers might play in the Europa League, however, we need to win the Scottish Premiership so that we can prove the Champions League is where we belong.
Dominating domestically and flying the flag in Europe has to be the aim.
