Giovanni van Bronckhorst confident Rangers can reach Champions League group stages

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst is confident his side can reach the Champions League group stage despite drawing 2-2 at home to PSV.

An end-to-end first leg match at Ibrox on Tuesday saw PSV take an early lead, only for Rangers to equalise through Antonio Colak, and then take the lead when Tom Lawrence’s free-kick was spilled by PSV keeper Walter Benitez.

Rangers couldn’t hold on to their lead, with Armando Obispo heading in from a corner to make it 2-2 and set up a showdown in Eindhoven next week with a huge prize on the line.

PSV’s home advantage will make them favourites to progress but Van Bronckhorst says his side have shown before they can get important results in Europe when needed.

“I’m a very positive person,” the Rangers manager said. “Of course we are able to go through.

“We’ve shown in the past that we can get a result away from home. It’s going to be a difficult game, probably similar to the way you saw the game today.

“But I’m confident we have a chance in one game to go through. It’s still even so we have to go out and play for everything and that’s the group stage of the Champions League.”

The Dutchman admitted his side hadn’t started at their usual level but put it down to nerves on a big night. However, he found plenty to like about what followed the early goal.

“I’m happy with the performance because we gave everything,” he said. “You saw in the beginning we were a little bit nervous and PSV had the better start.

“After it went 1-0, especially the 15 minutes after, I think we took over the game with a lot of pressure and a lot of good attacks. The goal we scored was an excellent attack from us.

“Second half we came 2-1 in front when the goalkeeper didn’t react well to the shot from Tom. After that you try to keep the momentum and search for the third goal but we didn’t get it and it’s disappointing of course if you get a set piece goal against so late in the game.

“At moments we played really well but we played against a quality side and over 90 minutes, and the score, you could see the difference wasn’t that big.”

PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said: “Next week we have that support but both teams are very level with playing styles so it is reduced to one game, a final at home.”So we have to prepare and be at our best to get a good game against Rangers.

“I thought it was a game with two halves, Rangers were on top in the first half, although of course we had the goal.

“We were on top in the second half and created more chances. 2-2 was a fair result and now it is reduced to one game.”