Rangers’ qualification for the last 32 of the Europa League did one major thing beyond the prize money and securing European football into 2021 – it proved Steven Gerrard’s team.

Now, what do we mean by this?

We recall a comment from some fans suggesting the reason Arsenal had to pay so much for Tierney at £25M and why Borna Barisic wasn’t worth the same despite the superior CV was because the Croat hadn’t won anything.

Tierney had league titles. And this made the difference. Apparently.

Well, there’s no argument that trophies impact your value, your achievements in the game.

But while that’s true, it’s also being forgotten that proving yourself in Europe is probably more valuable now than winning the league.

It’s the SPL for God’s sake. Don’t get us wrong, we want our 55th more than anything, but for the grander picture, do you think big European sides want players who won the SPL, or who proved themselves in Europe?

Barisic has more than done that, and that goes for the whole squad under this manager.

Under Stevie, Rangers have now qualified for the last 32 two seasons in a row, in two incredibly hard groups. And the players doing it are now being seen in those tournaments, in the latter stages, and that is hiking their value, their credibility, and their reputations.

Doing it consistently, year after year, at that kind of level, is what really counts, and on that level Rangers are building a fantastic portfolio of lucrative assets.

It’s looking good, Bears.