Vaclav Cerny says Rangers feel at home in Europe after securing last-16 spot

Vaclav Cerny claimed Rangers feel at home in Europe after qualifying for the last 16 of the Europa League with a 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox on Thursday night.

Goals from midfielder Nicolas Raskin and Czech Republic winger Cerny put the Light Blues two ahead against the Belgian outfit, who made it a nervy ending when Kevin Mac Allister reduced the deficit with six minutes remaining.

Rangers, whose erratic domestic form this season has all-but handed the Premiership title to Old Firm rivals Celtic, held on for the win that took them to eighth place – avoiding the play-offs.

Philippe Clement’s side were joined in the last 16 by earlier opponents Lyon, Olympiacos, Manchester United and Tottenham and, asked if European football suited Rangers, Cerny, on loan from Wolfsburg, said: “Yeah, almost every game we’ve played has been a good game.

“I don’t think we have had a bad game in Europe this season. We were just well prepared for every single game.

“It’s a big one (achievement). That’s what we wanted before it all started. We had some tough opponents, and it’s a very, very good achievement to go into the top eight.

“If you see that many of the opponents we played finished in the top eight as well, it is a good sign and we should be confident to go through.

“There are more eyes on those games, obviously, but the mindset is to do this every game.

“But I think it’s a good thing also that we can measure (up) with such an opponent.”

Cerny was brief and to the point when it was suggested that Rangers were making European opponents scared to go to Ibrox, saying: “Yeah, that’s good. I like that feeling.”

Progress to the knockout stages in March alleviated further the pressure that had been building on Clement earlier in the season when it became apparent that Celtic were heading for yet another title.

Cerny said: “He’s dealing with pressure every three days, and he’s dealing with it very well, as we are, because we play for a big club and that’s how it should be, that’s normal, and I like the way that we stick together.

“We stick together no matter what, and we can put big performances in. We achieved something that we wanted to achieve and let’s see from now on.”