Giovanni van Bronckhorst credits ‘tremendous’ Ange Postecoglou and insists Rangers don’t need to overshadow Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title with Europa League win

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst insists his side will not be trying to overshadow Celtic by winning the Europa League.

Gers were beaten to the Scottish Premiership title by their Old Firm rivals, who sealed top spot with a game to spare on Wednesday night.

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However, Van Bronckhorst’s side can still claim a historic double next week after reaching the final of both the Europa League and the Scottish Cup.

While Celtic and Rangers have been historically dominant in Scotland, claiming more than 100 titles between them, European success has eluded both clubs in recent decades.

A UEFA Cup runner-up finish in the noughties is all that both Glasgow clubs have to show for their exploits on the continent since Celtic won the European Cup in 1967 and Rangers claimed the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1972.

There have been suggestions among fans that Rangers beating Bundesliga side Frankfurt in Seville and winning the Europa League would represent a greater achievement than Celtic’s redemptive league title.

But when those claims were put to Van Bronckhorst on talkSPORT, the Dutchman dismissed them.

He told White and Jordan: “It was a great challenge for the league title this year and, in the end, we came up short.

“That’s football. We give credit to Celtic and to Ange – he’s done a tremendous job in his first season.

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“But I don’t think we have to win the Europa League just to overshadow Celtic’s achievement.

“They have a great achievement in the league and we’ll push hard for our club to be successful in Europe.

“That’s the only thing we have to be focussed on: giving success to our clubs.”

The Rangers boss was humble on the morning after his side’s failed defence of their title was confirmed, giving credit to Celtic and their manager Ange Postecoglou for winning a close-fought race.

When asked whether the Hoops’ domestic triumph brings more pressure ahead of the Europa League showdown with Frankfurt, Van Bronckhorst insists his side are only thinking about themselves.

“There is always pressure,” the Netherlands legend continued. “I always had pressure as a player, no matter which team I played for.

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“As a coach, as well, coaching one of the biggest clubs in Holland with Feyenoord. The pressure is always here at Rangers.

“That’s nothing new. Being the manager of Rangers, losing the Championship this year – we have to give credit to Ange and Celtic for the run they’ve had this season.

“In sport, you have to perform every week. When you are first place at the end of the season, you are deserved champions. That’s why they deserve the credit.

“Being successful in Europe is fantastic for all of us and we can have an historic week if we win the European Cup for the second time – that will show how big an achievement it is.

“It can make it an historic achievement for us if we win both cups next week.”

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