Rangers

Image source, SNS

• Rangers have progressed from the Europa League group stage for the fifth consecutive time.

• Rangers have lost just two of their last 14 Europa League games on home soil, winning nine and drawing three.

• Nicolas Raskin became the second Belgian player to score a major European goal for Rangers, after Thomas Buffel in the 2006-07 Uefa Cup against Molde.

• James Tavernier has assisted in each of his last three Europa League appearances - as many as he had in his previous 35 games. It was his eighth assist in the competition for Rangers; the joint most along with Borna Barisic.

• Vaclav Cerny has been directly involved in six goals in his last six Europa League appearances for Rangers, scoring four and assisting two.

• Tavernier made his 59th major European appearance, with only Allan McGregor (78), John Greig (62) and Barry Ferguson (60) making more for Rangers.

Rangers, Derby County, Hull City and Swansea City are interested in taking Bobby Clark on loan, five months after the 19-year-old midfielder joined Red Bull Salzburg from Liverpool for £6m. (Daveockop), external

Amid speculation linking him with a move away from Rangers after impressing early in his Ibrox career, 22-year-old striker Hamza Igamane says he is happy with the Scottish Premiership club and thanked his agents for choosing a league that suits him well. (Onze Mondial via Daily Record), external

Everton signing Rangers striker Hamza Igamane is not happening in this transfer window. (David Anderson on X), external

Dundee manager Tony Docherty is unaware of any likely January outgoings despite reported interest from Rangers in 22-year-old midfielder Lyall Cameron. (The Courier), external

Dunfermline Athletic are interested in taking 19-year-old Rangers winger Archie Stevens on loan. (Daily Record), external

Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson is set to return to the Ibrox club's academy in a coaching role. (Rangers Review), external

Rangers have earned a grand total of £8.9m from their Europa League campaign so far. (Daily Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

Rangers captain James Tavernier tells TNT Sports: "We conceded the header which we know as a team we should keep our line. But I'm delighted we held on.

"It was only at the end of the game Vaclav [Cerny] told us we sneaked into the top eight.

"You obviously want to compete against the best and European football is getting harder and harder each year. We've done well and I think we deserved it.

"We'll definitely take the weeks off - we can probably train now rather than play then rest and recover."

Rangers upset the odds to earn an impressive top-eight finish in the Europa League after Vaclav Cerny's second-half strike proved decisive against Union Saint-Gilloise.

A direct route to the last 16 seemed very unlikely until deep into the second half at Ibrox given the necessity for results elsewhere to go the Scottish Premiership side's way, but those all fell perfectly into place.

Philippe Clement's team will now face one of Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht, Twente or Fenerbahce in March depending who progresses from their play-off fixtures.

Rangers - who started the night in 13th place having played four of the eventual top seven - had a straightforward assignment. Win and see how the cards fell.

They did that, despite a number of scares, to earn an incredible outcome.

Have your say on the game and outcome here., external

Image source, SNS

Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "It's a massive achievement for the whole squad. "The whole squad was necessary.

"Leon King couldn't see anymore, Ross McCausland had to come on at full-back.

"We had to be very creative the last few months but we've done it brilliantly.

"Massive clubs with massive budgets have finished behind us, and around us, the achievement is only bigger by beating four of the seven top teams.

"It's not about me, I'm not in this story. You can write whatever you want, I know what we're doing with the club.

"We explained at the beginning of the season what this club needed, not my choice, the board's choice. The board asked me if I wanted to step into this very, very challenging project and I did and I do and I will be on the barricades for this club.

"It's good people start to see more and more, things a few months ago people maybe didn't believe.

"Qualification in this Europa League is one of these things. The club is on the right way. Is it fast enough to win everything? That's our ambition.

"We need to create this culture and more and more I see it. They know what it means to play for this club."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Ibrox

Image source, SNS

This has been an incredibly impressive Europa League campaign. A top-eight finish is a fantastic outcome given how foreboding the draw looked and the fans were loving it come full-time.

This was a tough group, no doubt about it.

Progression was secured before kick-off but such were the uncertainties involved, a top-eight finish really seemed beyond them at the start of the night.

That still seemed the case until late on when Nice levelled against Bodo/Glimt and suddenly everything somehow just fell into place.

This was a Union Saint-Gilloise side that seemed capable and intent on getting forward whenever possible. Rangers stood up to that, having rode their luck several times but they were clinical at key moments and that was decisive.

It is something of a conundrum this season that, at this level, Rangers can seem to raise their game yet have struggled away from home in particular domestically.

But no-one at Ibrox was bothered about any of that come the final whistle.

Dessers deserves special mention. He seems to have really stepped up of late and played a key role in what was a memorable night, and achievement.

Image source, SNS

Philippe Clement has not had his injury problems to seek, and has at times recently been forced to call upon younger players in the Rangers ranks.

While arguably not ideal, former Ibrox midfielder Kevin Thomson has been delighted with the opportunities granted to emerging talents.

Defender Clinton Nsiala, 21, forward Zak Lovelace, 19, and 18-year-old midfielder Findlay Curtis are among those to have featured in recent games.

Curtis and Bailey Rice came off the bench in last week's 2-1 defeat at Man United and could be set for more Europa League game-time in tonight's visit of Union Saint-Gilloise.

"The manager's hand's been forced at times to potentially allow some of the young ones to get an opportunity," Thomson said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But I'm sitting here as an ex-player thinking that's brilliant. Sometimes you need that opportunity.

"It may be through default, it may be through injury, it may be through different circumstances, but when it gives that opportunity, I think that's good for the long-term future of the club.

"When you're seeing people like Kieran Dowell moving out on loan, Rabbi Matando's obviously been linked with going away too, it creates space for the younger ones and that can only be a good thing."

Listen and subscribe to the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast here

Image source, SNS

Former Rangers manager Alex McLeish believes Philippe Clement's side are getting their swagger back as they look to continue momentum with a Europa League win over Union Saint-Gilloise tonight.

Rangers' 3-1 victory at Dundee United last weekend was their first Premiership away win in five attempts and McLeish was particularly impressed with the new front pairing of Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers.

"I really thought there was a purpose about Rangers and a cloud had lifted after all the criticism of their away form," he told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme.

"I thought I saw a little change in the wind in the United game. It was a great 3-1 victory. They really took the game to United and playing with two centre forwards was a real novelty these days but very effective.

"For the first time this season watching Rangers away from home it was an inspirational performance."

Rangers are already guaranteed a Europa League play-off spot – and have a very slim chance of securing a top-eight finish and direct entry to the last 16 should they beat the Belgians and a series of other results go in their favour.

"Clement will demand the same again. Take the performance level, confidence and rhythm from the Dundee Utd game into this one," McLeish added.

"They had a fantastic performance in Nice [4-1 Europa League win in November] and Igamane was outstanding that night and has been ever since. To see him and Dessers together was quite amazing the other day. They looked very dangerous.

"Belgian teams have been terrific on the road but Rangers have a very good chance of winning this one and further cementing their confidence."

Image source, SNS

• Rangers have won all six of their home games against Belgian sides in all competitions by an aggregate score of 20-7. Their most recent such match was a 3-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in qualifying for the 2022-23 Champions League.

• Union Saint-Gilloise have lost three of their four meetings with Scottish opponents in all competitions, with the exception a 2-0 home win against Rangers in August 2022.

• Rangers have only lost two of their 18 home group/league phase games in the Europa League (W10 D6), with both coming to Lyon in September 2021 (2-0) and October 2024 (4-1).

• Union Saint-Gilloise have won three of their past five away major European matches (L2), as many as they had managed in their first 16 such games (W3 D4 L9).

• Franjo Ivanovic has scored a brace in both of Union Saint-Gilloise's last two Europa League games, giving him four goals overall. Only Victor Boniface (6) and Roger Van Cauwelaert (5) have more in major European competition for the club.

Image source, Getty Images

Rangers have appointed Issame Charai as assistant manager to fellow Belgian Philippe Clement following Andries Ulderink's departure "for personal reasons".

The 42-year-old Charai was most recently Morocco Under-23 head coach, leading them to the African Cup of Nations title.

He was previously assistant at Al-Faisaly, where he also had a spell as caretaker, Beerschot, Sint-Truidense and Leuven.

Before turning to coaching, he was a forward with Berchem Sport, Lierse, Geel, Mechelen 46, Sint-Truidense and Tienen.

Ulderink joined Rangers in the summer but now leaves Ibrox to return to the Netherlands.

In a website statement, the Scottish Premiership club stated: "Everyone at Rangers wishes Andries well for his future and asks his privacy is respected at this time."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has welcomed the decision to rescind the late red card shown to Mohamed Diomande in Sunday's 3-1 win Premiership win over Dundee United.

Diomande clashed with United's Kevin Holt in injury time and, despite being asked to review the incident by the VAR, referee Nick Walsh stuck with his original call, which was subsequently overturned on appeal.

"It's just common logic," said Clement in the build-up to Thursday's Europa League tie against Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox.

"It's a normal thing. It's good there is a good system that you can appeal.

"It's good also that VAR did their job during the game and were clear it was not a red card. It's good that the system works.

"Of course, it's a big difference now it's the last two minutes of the game and this happens and it doesn't have any influence on the result.

"It would have been totally different if it happened in the first half and you would need to play with 10 players because then it impacts the game also, but that was not the case.

"Everybody made clear it was not a red card and that there was a mistake made. That's finished."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, PA Media

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League match against Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox.

Here are the key points:

• Clement will not disclose if any key players will return from injury as he doesn't want to help his opponents in a "decisive game" and give them "all the tools".

• The Belgian says it would be "impossible" to try to keep track of other Europa League ties that could impact on whether Rangers finish in the top eight.

• On the challenge the visitors will present: "Union is a very good team, very strong, so it's not easy to win against them."

• Clement insists full-back Jefte would "100%" benefit from staying at Rangers longer term after being linked with a move to Chelsea.

• On Mohamad Diomande's late red card against Dundee United being overturned on appeal, Clement says it is "good that the system works", but pointed out the impact may have been greater had the dismissal occurred early in the game.

• He describes 18-year-old midfielder Findlay Curtis' new deal as "another step about the story that I told you guys from beginning of July about where this club wants to go and where this club needs to go".

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Elton Kabangu will go from striker to supporter on Thursday night when he cheers on his parent club Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox.

The 26-year-old has made a positive early impression since arriving on loan at Hearts this month - scoring three goals in three appearances - and says Union SG are not to be underestimated.

The Belgians head to Ibrox seeking a fourth straight Europa League victory and are, like Rangers, already guaranteed a play-off spot.

"They won last Thursday [against Braga] and they're doing very well, qualifying for the next round," Kabangu told BBC Scotland.

"Rangers are a good team and also I watched the game against Man United, so it will be a good game. I will be there to watch.

"[Union play with] fast transitions, strikers that are hungry like me and a good defence.

"I don't want to say too much because I don't want to reveal the tactics. But Union like to play football, the coach has a good vision and it will be an open game.

"I think Union can win - but I think also Rangers can win."

Image source, SNS

Rangers boss Philippe Clement has praised the "hard work and dedication" of Findlay Curtis after the 18-year-old signed a contract extension following his first-team breakthrough.

The midfielder made his debut in the 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Fraserburgh this month and also came off the bench in last week's 2-1 Europa League defeat at Manchester United.

Curtis was due to be out of contract in the summer and Rangers have not disclosed the length of the new deal.

"It's a proud day for myself, my family and friends, and it's a good feeling to commit my future to the club," said the teenager.

"The manager has been so helpful with me and he has given me the confidence to keep on pushing. He said to me that my chance would come and to be patient."

Clement added: "As a boyhood Rangers fan, he is well aware of what it takes to represent this club and I look forward to his continued development over the coming years."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

On Sunday, I posed the question in commentary at Tannadice: "Can Rangers afford to sell Cyriel Dessers?" after a remarkable period for the much-maligned striker.

His goal to clinch the 3-1 victory, like the one he scored at Old Trafford a few days earlier, was magnificent, making it six in four games after his Scottish Cup hat-trick against Fraserburgh and his strike off the bench against Aberdeen.

So the answer to my question is quite straightforward in my mind. Of course they can't. Yes, he'll continue to miss chances that defy belief, but even though the emergence of Hamza Igamane had relegated Dessers to the bench in recent times, the pair dovetailed well against Dundee United and there is no reason not to continue with that pairing over the weeks and months to come.

That win over United was massive for Rangers and it should do them a power of good psychologically. I think it was Craig Levein alongside me in commentary who described them as a "Jekyll and Hyde team" and it was a pretty apt description.

For the first 35 minutes of that game they were second best, didn't look up for the physical battle and seemed to be heading for another away game without a victory or maybe even a point.

Mohamed Diomande's equaliser came out of the blue but was the catalyst for a much-improved performance and by the end they could have run away with the game.

It typifies Rangers' season. Very rarely have they turned in a good 90-minute display, but when they are playing with confidence, they look unstoppable.

If they play as they did in the closing hour at Tannadice against Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday, I fully expect them to beat the Belgians.

And with that, looking at the permutations, it's far from impossible that they can squeeze into the top eight and qualify automatically for the last 16, which would be a phenomenal achievement for a team and manager who have come in for enormous criticism this season.

Rangers have yet to offer Ianis Hagi a new contract, despite reports suggesting one had been made to the 26-year-old Romania midfielder. (Sky Sports), external

Agent and former Rangers player Craig Moore says the Ibrox club were made aware of Nikola Katic's desire to return to Ibrox from FC Zurich but are not interested in signing the 28-year-old centre-half. (Go Radio Football Show), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

It was a tale of two Uniteds for us in recent days and we won the game at Tannadice that I wasn't expecting to win.

Firstly, the match at Old Trafford was a sickener. Two daft errors cost us a point in the end, but it was great to see Findlay Curtis and Bailey Rice play their part. The biggest issue from the night was Vaclav Cerny's injury.

Another away trip - this time to Tannadice - soon beckoned and I'm surprised we won so comfortably in the end.

The 4-4-2 helped both strikers and enabled us to cause United problems, especially in the second half. That match did clearly show our need for a dominant centre-back, especially one that can help deal with crosses, corners and long throws. However, the win was a step in the right direction.

Now let's talk about the Mohamed Diomande red card. It was ridiculous. Nick Walsh was being far too stubborn for his own good with this one. You would hope it gets overturned on appeal and the ref punished as a result.

I'm sick of talking about these big decisions every week in a game involving Rangers. Maybe sometime this season we'll get a fair crack of the whip.