Ibrox icon Graeme Souness has told Rangers’ rivals to quit their jealousy and thank the Govan giants for their success in Europe.
And the likes of Celtic may be even more envious as he’s convinced his old club can go all the way to glory in the Europa League.
Souness reckons Rangers have put Scotland back on the map with their stunning knockout round victory against Borussia Dortmund.
And he believes the huge win has got continental sides running scared as the Light Blues should be able to take on anyone after toppling the German giants – including Barcelona.
Souness said: “People will look at the Dortmund result and sit up and take notice of our league.
“The teams in Scotland should be thanking Rangers, instead of the usual jealousy.
“But Rangers now should have enough confidence to go anywhere.
“They should fear nothing now. Look at Barcelona.
“It’s the Barcelona name which conjures up great things, but that’s not the Barcelona now.
“Rangers should have no fear if they end up meeting them in the final.
“But they should have no fear meeting anyone right now.
“Yeah, they were disappointing in the league game after Dortmund. That can happen.
“We’ve all been there.
“But the should take a lot of confidence from turning over one of the best teams in Europe – with a bit of style.
“They were worthy winners over the two games.
“This is a team that is playing in one of the big leagues and were favourites for the tournament.”
Souness fancies Gers to take out Red Star Belgrade over two legs, with the sides set to collide in Glasgow on Thursday.
And he is convinced the Ibrox men will now be the side no one in Europe wants to face.
Souness said: “They should have no fear going anywhere.
“You’ll never get a player to admit it, but when they were drawn with Dortmund I’m sure a few were thinking, we could have done without that one.
“The confidence they got from beating them should be enormous.
“And now Rangers are the team are all of a sudden others don’t want to play.
“Prior to Dortmund other teams would fancy some of them. That’s not the case now.”
Rangers are looking to keep up the heat on league leaders Celtic when they face Aberdeen today.
Souness believes his old club don’t need to choose between the Premiership or the Europa – as they can win both.
When asked if it was too big a burden on Gio van Bronckhorst’s squad, he said: “No. Only if injuries kick in. The confidence you get from winning big games kicks you on.
“If you gave me the choice between the league or Europe, I couldn’t give you one.
“I’d want both.
“You don’t want to get knocked out and your season falls apart. You can’t think like that.
“You want both. We can go on a run, winning games breeds confidence to go in to the next games.”
