Delighted Gio van Bronckhorst gushed over his Rangers players Red Star Belgarde heroics - and urged them to push for the semi-final next step.
Ryan Kent 's deflected effort silenced the Marakana after Mirko Ivanic got the home side off to the perfect start.
A late Ben Nabouhane penalty gave the hosts the win on the night, but the damage was done in the first leg with Rangers reaching the quarter-finals with a 4-2 aggregate win.
Having slipped up in the last 16 in the previous two campaigns, it's a huge moment for the current crop of talent at Ibrox.
Jubilant Van Bronckhorst was beaming with pride following the full-time whistle - and hopes to see his side progress beyond the next round.
He told BT Sport: "We are very proud. It's a great achievement to get to the last eight of the Europa League.
"We started really well, and they weren't really in the game but one set piece and they got the belief from when they scored early.
"in the second half we scored in the right moment. If we would have conceded the second goal, they were pushing us really hard.
"After the goal the belief for them was getting weaker. We could have got another, but were defending really well. They were looking for balls in behind the defence all the time, so we pushed Calvin inside to make it two agains three.
"That went really well, and I'm more than happy for everyone connected with this club that we go through."
When asked about their hopes in the next round ahead of the draw on Friday, he added: "I mean, the belief is only getting stronger.
"We take it tie by tie. The belief is only getting stronger, and now we are in the last eight.
"There are big teams left. We have to wait and see tomorrow but there are games left to develop as a team, and maybe reach one step further. That will always will be the goal.
"But the opponent will always be stronger in the next round."
