Rangers’ ‘special’ Champions League dream part of Mark Warburton’s plan
When Mark Warburton took charge of Rangers, he knew the goals that had to be set at the club, according to what Kenny Miller says.
The first two were quickly ticked off in reaching the Premiership and then establishing themselves back at that level but the third and final goal has only just been crossed off.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has led the Light Blues back into the Champions League for the first time since the club’s resurrection in midweek with a fantastic win away at PSV Eindhoven to set up a tasty-looking group stage draw.
Miller was in the first side that Warburton took charge of at Ibrox and feels a sense of pride that his dream and wish has now come true many years on.
“I had already been at the club twice before and experienced success,” Miller said in his Daily Record column. “And when Warbs came in, it was the start of building towards something special.
“It has taken seven years to achieve it. But given where the club has been, it’s been relatively quick. But deep down, I always believed it would happen. I always believed Rangers would be back at the top of the game.
“That’s why I felt so proud when Steven’s side won the 55th title – and again in midweek after Gio’s team beat PSV. Reaching the Champions League is the final piece in the rebuild.”
Compete
Realistically speaking, Rangers shouldn’t be aiming to go out and win the Champions League on their first foray back into the competition and it could even be a struggle to get out of the group given the strength of the opposition.
Liverpool and Ajax have both reached the semi-finals in recent years and Napoli have challenged at the very top of Serie A for many years and presents a tough test.
So perhaps progression to the knockout stages is a big ask, while doable, and so as long as the Bears can compete with every team and make themselves difficult to beat, van Bronckhorst can be content with their campaign.
And that would also see them drop into the Europa League (if they finish third in the group) and after last season’s heroics, who knows what might occur on Thursday nights in 2023.
But with Ibrox added into the recipe, anything can happen and maybe there is a chance to progress from the group stage in the right direction.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton believes this Bears star will be out to impress in the Champions League as he faces his boyhood club for the first time since leaving.