Nico Raskin reckons Rangers’ huge hearts and solid unity poured out again in Europe.
But, with those lofty standards set, the Belgian is fully aware it simply has to now instantly and consistently translate onto the domestic scene.
Barry Ferguson’s troops head for Sunday’s clash with Aberdeen buoyed by their gritty display against Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Despite being reduced to 10 men early through a red card for Robin Propper, the Light Blues fought and scrapped to keep Bilbao at bay.
Rangers now travel to the Basque country full of belief that they produce another magical away-day on the continent and book a semi-final spot.
However, before catching the flight, it’s a team coach that’ll first be boarded as the Ibrox side go to the Granite City on Premiership business.
While the displays and results in Europe this season have been impressive, it’s too often been infuriating on the domestic front.
Rangers are out of the trophy picture in their own country with six weeks to go in the term and failing to match the continental heights on a regular basis within Scotland’s borders has been a source of huge frustration within the camp.
Defeated once already this term at Pittodrie, Rangers go back keen to maintain their momentum ahead of Bilbao by delivering a productive performance in the North East.
Raskin and his team set the standard against Athletic as the midfielder said: “If you look at the end of the game Ross [MacAusland] was right back, Tav [James Tavernier] centre-back, it just shows you how many hearts we have and how much we want it.
“I am proud of the team because it is always a tough game in Europe and it was 10 against 11 for the majority of the game, even nine against 11 at the end.
“So we are just proud of the performance, mentality with 10. We are united.
“Playing 10 against 11 for the whole game you can see we are a team, we help each other and we are just going to need to be more efficient in front of the goal and then stay the same.
“I think we have competed really good defensively in Europe over the competition.
“I think those standards have never been down in Europe, but the important thing is the way we show up against Aberdeen, the way we go and attack the game.
“So now it’s time to recover, we are not going to have a lot of days to prepare, but we have been through this the whole season, so it is going to be about recovery and preparation on Saturday and we go again on Sunday and try to do something good.”
Ferguson has spent time trying to get into the mindset of the squad and, at the beginning of last week, considered it time to bring it all to a head.
Instigating a no-holds barred discussion between management, staff and players in the wake of the fifth successive home loss at the hands of Hibs, the manager and his squad laid it all on the line.
The floor was wide open as the unit tried to find the answers and there was evidence against Athletic that the summit had been worthwhile.
Ferguson had noted that, in previous times since he took charge, the loss of the opening goal or a major setback in the early stages of a match was having too detrimental an effect in subsequent match events.
That theory was fully tested when Propper got his red card inside 15 minutes of the clash against Bilbao.
But this time, instead of going into their shells and folding, Rangers ran a yard further, blocked with more vigour, hunted with more desire in the face of adversity.
Raskin noted the reaction to the Dutchman’s ordering-off and the reshuffle in resources as he said: “You could see on the pitch that nobody was like this [head down] and complaining, we knew it would be even harder but we were there for it.
“It changed a bit the plan for the game, but sometimes you have to play that game and 0-0 is really good and we have everything to play for next week, thanks to Liam.”
Raskin’s reference was about keeper Kelly who, having been brought into the side following Ferguson’s decision to axe Jack Butland, justified his gaffer’s call with a crucial penalty stop in the closing stages of the contest to secure the 0-0 scoreline for the 10 men.
Following Butland’s shootout heroics in the previous round against Fenerbahce, it was the Scotland squad star’s turn to shine and Raskin said: “He saved a great penalty. I think we are quite good on penalties in this competition if you look at Jack, now Liam. It is great for us.”
Kelly’s save ensured the fans and squad departed the scene at full-time with a spring in their step, but the challenge is now to keep moving in the right direction, starting with the encounter against Jimmy Thelin’s team.
Raskin is ready, even if he knows it’ll be a different style of contest as he said: “It is two very different competitions.
Bilbao battle shows Rangers are ‘united’ as Nicolas Raskin namechecks 2 heroes who stepped out of comfort zone
