GIOVANNI van Bronckhorst has admitted that qualification for the Champions League group stages has presented Rangers with a “financial opportunity” and revealed that “anything can happen” in the final days of the summer transfer window.
Van Bronckhorst celebrated with his coaching staff and players in Eindhoven last night after the Europa League finalists beat PSV 1-0 in the Philips Stadium to complete a 3-2 aggregate triumph in the play-off.
The hard-fought but richly-deserved victory means the Ibrox club will join the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid in the draw for Europe’s premier club competition this evening and will bank in the region of £40m.
Their Dutch manager, who won the Champions League with Barcelona as a player, has strengthened his squad significantly this summer, but he refused to rule out adding some quality reinforcements before next Wednesday night.
"It will impact us,” he said. “As players and coaches, we are only thinking about competing with the best in Europe. But there are many positives. We take a lot away from this game.
"The board are happy we get a financial opportunity. We always have good talks in how to spend the money!
“Do I expect new faces before the window shuts? I don’t know. There are seven days left and anything can happen.
“It feels great. I couldn’t be prouder right now. We are all proud. This is a big moment for us. It feels great to achieve what we wanted - and that is to be in the Champions League.”
Speaking to BT Sport, Van Bronckhorst added: “I was more relaxed than during the first leg because of the way we played. We were very controlled and played the way we wanted.
“PSV couldn’t press us in the first half, we found space and the only thing that was missing was a goal. Then we scored at the right moment and we became stronger and stronger in the game.”
Malik Tillman, who joined from Bayern Munich on loan this summer, set up his fellow new boy Antonio Colak for the only goal of the PSV game in the second-half.
“Malik was very good and better than last week,” said Van Bronckhorst. “We wanted opportunities to press and we were waiting when that pass was played.
“He won the ball and showed composure and vision to find Antonio. It was a great moment.”
Rangers’ entry to the stadium was delayed because their team buses were surrounded by PSV supporters in scenes which Van Bronchorst described as the “worst I’ve seen”.
However, the former Feyenoord manager admitted the trouble fired up James Tavernier and his team mates.
“We were already ready for the game but of course we used that too,” he said. “When this happens, the victory tastes sweeter.”
