RANGERS boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst spoke to the Rangers Review and other media outlets following the win over PSV Eindhoven to qualify for the Champions League group stage.

Here is what the Dutchman had to say.

Can you sum up your emotions?

It’s a very proud moment because I know what it means for the club ad everyone involved and the club to be playing at the highest level in Europe.

To be playing with the best teams is a proud moment for all of us.

For me, I played many games as a player and coached my team Feyenoord in the Champions League and to experience it with Rangers as well is a very proud moment.

Where does it rank for you?

It comes really close to being the best moment. You know where the club comes from. Ten years ago we were at the lowest part of our history. It took really hard work to build the club back again to a level we achieved now. It’s a proud moment for me to give this to all the people who used so much energy building this club up again. Seville was a proud moment for us to compete for the second European cup in our history and today we have the same moment to be in the draw for the Champions League and compete with the best teams in Europe. 

Do you feel like Rangers are back where they belong?

Of course, there were dark moments. But the spotlights are on this competition so it’s a great metaphor to have the dark moments and then step into the spotlight of the biggest competition in the world. It is going to be a great challenge for my team and everyone at this club to prepare the team well and to hear the Champions League song again this season.

Rangers Review:

What did you make of the goal?

We pressed them very well. It was difficult for us to find the right moments. At times we sensed we could win the ball high up the pitch and the goal came from the perfect opportunity for us. Malik showed great composure throughout the game and in that moment. We saw Antonio scream for the tap-in and it was a great goal for us to score.

Is the intention now to be competitive?

Yeah, we are going to try and win it now (laughs). Of course, you want to be competitive. We are here to compete, we want to compete with the best teams in Europe. It is going to be a difficult challenge because we are going to face some big teams in Europe like we did last year, but it is an experience that I will love. I love that my players will have the opportunity to compete. I always remember my first game in the Champions League with Feyenoord against Juventus away and in the first 20, 25 minutes I was blown away by the level and the way Juventus played in that time. To experience that as a player, you have to be very privileged because not many players get the chance to compete on this level.

Does it make it all the more satisfying considering the issue with Alfredo Morelos and the disruption with fireworks going off and the team bus being delayed?

I think one of the jobs as a coach is to inspire your players for what lies ahead and for us it was the Champions League. Of course, you have the fireworks and the day we had. And Morelos qualified for the Champions League as well, he qualified for the Champions League as well. I think he is also proud that he sees his teammates and his club qualify for the biggest competition in the world. He is still a Rangers player and I will push him the way I can to get him fit and to get the Morelos back that we all want.

How pleased were you with the performances of James Sands and Antonio Colak?

You want to make sure that players always have an impact. Of course, James was here last season as well but the minutes he gets now and the playing time is the most he got. I am really happy with his performances and the level he reached. For Antonio, it is difficult to come to a new club, it is the same for all the players we have this season. But he is very important with his performance and his goals. He had two goals last season that was not what we wanted as a club at Ibrox but now I think he is in good books with everyone at this club.