CONNOR GOLDSON arrived at Rangers daring to dream of Champions League football.
Now he stands just 90 minutes away from the reality of a place at the top table of the European game.
The Englishman bought into the project and the vision when he became one of Steven Gerrard's first signings and completed a switch from Brighton and Hove Albion four years ago.
Since then, he has gone on to become a stalwart on the park and a hugely influential figure off it as he has been there every step of the way at home and abroad.
The lifting of title 55 and Scottish Cup win last term stand out as the highlights. Losing in the Europa League final is, of course, the ultimate source of regret.
But, tonight in Eindhoven, Goldson can tick another box as Rangers aim to overcome PSV and end their 12-year wait for a place in the group stages.
It would mark another milestone moment for Goldson and he needs no reminding of just how far Rangers have come as he looks to a defining 90 minutes at the Philips Stadion.
“It’s obviously a big achievement from where we’ve come," Goldson said. "If you look at the journey that we’ve taken over these last four years it’s been amazing.
“At the same time, we’ve all had big nights together as a group. Just look at the run we had last season.
“We always sat here and said what a big game, what a big achievement.
“So this is just another big game for the football club and we know as a team that we need to produce.
"I never probably felt that I would play Champions League football.
"Growing up at Shrewsbury in League Two did I ever envision that I’d be able to do? Probably not.
“You have dreams as a kid and this is the pinnacle of club football so to do it would be an amazing achievement and hopefully we can."
That run to Seville last season provided Rangers with some of the most remarkable moments in their recent history as Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade, Braga and RB Leipzig were beaten in a historic campaign.
The final step would prove too difficult to take. Whatever Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side go on to achieve together, they will always share that evening of what might have been.
This meeting with PSV comes with the added pressure of a potential £40million cash jackpot but Goldson is only concerned about matters on the field ahead of the second leg showdown.
Goldson said: “Personally for me, no [it is not more significant than Seville]. I know what you mean but Seville was a European final and not many players get to play in one of those through their whole career.
“I understand the financial gains the club will get for it but as a player we wanted to win in Seville because we would have been winners of the Europa League but we also knew we’d have been straight into the Champions League.
“This is another chance for us to get into the Champions League, where every single player wants to play."
If Rangers are to accomplish another feat on the European stage, they will have to do it the hard way against Ruud van Nistelrooy's side.
Goals from Antonio Colak and Tom Lawrence were ultimately not enough to secure a first leg lead at Ibrox last week as PSV went ahead and then fought back to secure a 2-2 draw.
Individual and collective errors were made as Ibrahim Sangare and Armando Obispo capitalised from corners and that is one area where Rangers must show significant improvement second time out.
Goldson said: “We work on it every single match day minus one. It was disappointing to lose two goals from them as when you play against a team as good as PSV the last thing you want to do is give them two goals from corners.
“We’re setting up in a new way and it’s taken a little bit of adjustments but we’ve all got to be as big and brave as we can and defend them as best as possible.
“Of course [the criticism was justified]. If you concede two goals in a game then you’re going to have to improve at them. We knew that ourselves."
Boss Van Bronckhorst will be without a handful of members of his squad as he seeks to lead Rangers to victory on his return to his homeland.
The absence of striker Alfredo Morelos is the headline news after he was dropped from the travelling party amid doubts over his future at Ibrox.
But Goldson has backed Colak to rise to the occasion once again as the Croatian shoulders the attacking burden in Eindhoven this evening.
Goldson said: “He’s been brilliant. It’s not easy coming into rangers and being the number nine but he’s worked his socks off, scored goals and important ones at that.
“I’ve been really impressed by him. I knew from playing against him that he was a threat and could score goals. He’s proven us right.”
