Ross McCausland: Rangers can make another run to Europa League final

Rangers winger Ross McCausland believes the team can build on reaching the last 16 of the Europa League by making another run to the final.

Thursday’s 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise saw the Ibrox side climb into eighth position at the end of the League Phase and bypass the play-off round of the competition.

While the likes of Roma, Galatasaray, Ajax and others are contesting the next round, Rangers will be enjoying a break from continental competition before returning to action in the last 16 in March.

Asked if the team could build on a successful group stage by making another run to the final of the competition, McCausland was certain they could surprise Europe again.

“Definitely,” he said. “When we got to the Europa League final, that shows that everyone believes we can, and that’s what we think as well.

“Yeah, definitely. 100%.”

Rangers have defeated USG, Malmo, Nice and FCSB in the tournament so far, drawn with Tottenham Hotspur and Olympiacos and only lost to Manchester United and Lyon.

McCausland says their record shows they can go forward with confidence.

“We’ve played a lot of big teams,” he said. “You go back to Old Trafford game and we were obviously unlucky not to gain a point. You go to the Spurs game and how incredible the boys were.

“Even the other games and how we’ve handled them and different scenarios. Teams play in very different ways and come from different countries with different styles of football.

“For us to adapt and show what we can do is amazing.”

McCausland played his part in the team’s final day victory that ensured progress to the last 16, playing out of position when he came on as an early sub to replace the concussed Leon King in the first half.

“Obviously, coming on at right full-back is not my natural position,” he said. “I’ve played there only a handful of times, including a couple of weeks back as well.

“So to be able to come on and do a job for the team today in such an important game is amazing.”

King’s withdrawal was the latest in a string of injuries to affect the squad this season and McCausland said that dealing with the situation made their European achievement even more special.

He said: “We’ve had a lot of injuries and that goes to show it doesn’t knock us down and we have the depth to be able to counter that.

“Everybody has put the work in each day in training and it shows today.”