Take it easy on Euroselves

Among the many stereotypical qualities of the Rangers support, one of the most commendable is that we tend to look within for fault and blame. There’s no paranoid railing against dark, outside forces whenever our club fails in a particlular area - we’re always more concerned with getting our own house in order.

However, that process can often get nasty and sometimes we’re too harsh on our own players, management and directors. The Champions League is where Rangers want to be but, as we contemplate last night’s defeat to Stuttgart, I think we must all realise that the Champions League is where Rangers consistently are.

On average, we’ve qualified for the Champions league once every second season of it’s existence. Considering the financial restrictions imposed on The Gers by being part of the SPL, considering the way those financial restrictions hit home this year in particular, we have to say we’re above-average performers on the European stage.

Yes, of course, no football fan wants to think about their club’s finances for too long and merely making it to the first rung of the European Cup ladder will never be enough for The Gers or The Bears. But, in this most recent edition of the world’s most glamorous and most difficult competition, the only truly blameworthy aspect of the campaign was our reaction to Panathinaikos going down to ten men in Athens.

Other than that, it’s been a simple economic truth that Rangers, once again, have been punching above their own weight simply to BE in the Champions League. Keep our head at the moment and keep looking for a chance to get into The Premiership - and we WILL eventually bring that big-eared cup to Ibrox.