RETURNING to the Champions League was the ultimate ambition for Rangers throughout their protracted and often painful recovery from their devastating financial implosion.

But nobody said it was going to be easy once they finally got there.

Ajax, Liverpool and Napoli, who they were drawn alongside in Group A on Thursday evening, hail from larger football nations, boast far bigger transfer budgets and wage bills and have much greater experience of the competition.

Yet, Scott Arfield and his team mates, who secured qualification with a richly-deserved 1-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands on Wednesday night, will have no inferiority complex when they take on the Dutch, English and Italian giants in the coming weeks.

Arfield yesterday stressed they are targeting a place in the last 16 – not third spot in their section and a return to the Europa League.

The midfielder has pinpointed the reason that Rangers have confidence ahead of their long-awaited appearance in the Europe’s premier club tournament – master tactician Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Van Bronckhorst’s record against overseas opponents has been hugely impressive since he replaced Steven Gerrard at Ibrox back in November.

Rangers’ unforgettable run to the Europa League final last season saw them both outperform and overcome Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, Braga and RB Leipzig, rivals from Germany, Serbia and Portugal who they were widely expected to struggle and lose against. 

Their manager has tweaked his formation to devastating effect on numerous occasions and he once again got his line-up, game plan and substitutions spot on in the Philips Stadium in midweek.

Arfield is certain the former Champions League winner will know exactly how to approach the Ajax, Liverpool and Napoli encounters and will ensure his side are competitive both at home and abroad. 

“Definitely,” he said. “I think you saw that more so last season, when we went to places like Dortmund and Leipzig and set up in different ways. Probably ways that nobody ever expected us to do so, with three at the back, five at the back. 

“We definitely have different structures to play from. And the most important thing is to have freedom and pace in your team. We’ve definitely got that. We can hit teams on the break or we can play further up and kind of suffocate teams like we do at Ibrox. 

“So he has certainly brought a great level of intelligence to us as players in terms of playing for the structure. It can only help us going into these six massive games.” 

Arfield continued: “I think you always have to aim higher. You always have to do it, particularly at this football club. 

“I said this numerous times through the campaign last season, getting to the final, that no matter who we are drawn against we feel we can beat them. 

“As much as you are going into the greatest cup competition, that doesn’t change. We feel as if we can do something and hopefully get a bit of luck on different occasions, because it’s massive to also get that. We feel as if we can aim and be as competitive as possible.” 

Arfield himself has previously played, beaten and scored against Liverpool during his time with Burnley in England so he knows from personal experience that reputations count for little and big names can be humbled.

He netted in a 1-1 draw with the six-time European champions at Anfield in his final season at Turf Moor back in 2017.

“I remember only touching the ball two times and scoring,” he said. “That was nice! That was the most important thing about it. 

“No, they are an amazing team. They’ve got better since I played against them. They were always so hard to play against but when I was down south we felt you could get after them and win the games. We managed to do that on one or two occasions. 

“The atmosphere is always electric. In the four years since I have been up here, they have only strengthened their players and have everything going for them.  They are a super team, super well organised, and it’s definitely going to be a difficult task to take anything from them. 

“But as always, we are always confident and always optimistic about our chances of playing against anyone. On the night, it will be a special night, hopefully. You’d like to draw on experiences, but it will make no difference at all. It’s going to be a tough game, but it’s one we feel as if we can win, no doubt.”

Rangers dropped their first cinch Premiership points of the season last Saturday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Hibernian at Easter Road and they now sit two adrift of leaders Celtic as a result.

The red cards which John Lundstram – who won his appeal to the SFA this week – and Alfredo Morelos were shown in the second-half of the match did not help the visitors’ cause any.

However, the Ibrox club, who had played in a physically and mentally demanding game against PSV in Govan four days earlier, were far from their brilliant best. Will their exertions on Wednesday night take a toll when they face Ross County this afternoon? Arfield is determined to ensure there is not another slip-up.

“That’s always the challenge,” he said. “It’s been the same since we’ve been here. It’s always the same. But the game tomorrow is as important as it was on Wednesday night. I said this when we won the Scottish Cup at the back end of last season, after Seville. 

“The game against Annan in the first round of the Scottish Cup was as important as Seville because you need to win every game here.  The challenge remains the same. To be competitive, earn the right to play and don’t take your eye off the ball. Because if you do so, obviously it sets you up for a disaster. It’s important and not a game we’ll be taking lightly.”