Philippe Clement hails Rangers squad after reaching Europa League last 16

Philippe Clement spoke proudly of a “massive achievement” after Rangers reached the last 16 of the Europa League with a 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox.

Midfielder Nicolas Raskin scored with a header in the 21st minute and fit-again winger Vaclav Cerny doubled that lead soon after the break with a drive.

Kevin MacAllister reduced the deficit in the 84th minute but Rangers held on and against the odds, results elsewhere went the way of the Ibrox side who snuck into eighth place on goal difference, joining earlier opponents Lyon, Olympiacos, Man United and Tottenham in the top eight.

With his squad depleted with injuries and ineligible players, Clement drafted in centre-back Leon King at right-back but he had to go off after 12 minutes after sustaining an earlier head knock.

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Winger Ross McCausland came on at full-back, while 18-year-old Paul Nsio came on to make his European debut alongside a second successive substitute appearance for Zak Lovelace.

The Belgian boss said: “It’s a massive achievement of all the squad. And it’s really the squad, it’s not the team. It’s not 11 players or 14, 15 players but all the squad has been involved and it was necessary again today again with Leon King, who had to play at right full-back.

“Then he had to come off with a serious concussion because he could not see anymore.

“And Ross (McCausland, winger) then playing right full-back. So we had to be very creative the last couple of months.

“But everybody dug in and did the job brilliantly.

“It’s not only being in this top eight. If you look at all the teams that finished behind us.

“There are really massive clubs with massive budgets who are behind us.

“But also in this top eight, from the seven other teams,  we played against four of them. So that makes the achievement only bigger I think.”

Rangers will take on either Fenerbahce, Twente, Bodo/Glimt or Anderlecht with the draw taking place on Friday.

Rangers drew 1-1 with Spurs at Ibrox and lost narrowly 2-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford, which helped give Clement the confidence to claim that his side, who started the night in 13th position, can beat anyone.

The former Genk, Club Brugge and Monaco boss said: “It’s about believing in yourself, in the team and making a good plan, a good structure using our qualities and stopping the opponents to use their qualities.

“We did really well in the first half and in the first part of the second half and then you saw at the end of the game the qualities that Union has.

“It’s about every game believing in yourself and I believe that on the day we can win against every opponent, whoever it is.

“That’s what the team showed also when we played against Tottenham or Man United who are massive clubs.

“That belief you need to have otherwise it’s no use going on the pitch.”