Unless you live under a rock in regards to the Rangers world, you have probably heard fans or even yourself sniggering about the idea of James Tavernier and Rangers lifting the Europa League trophy come may.

It just shows how funny football can be, as with two consecutive defeats for Gerrard’s Rangers at the start of the Europa campaign, many were wondering if we would be able to even make it out our group, but here we are.

So, can we do it? That is the question. The path to the trophy is now in place and for Rangers, it is probably the best we could have hoped for. Two triumphant results against Dortmund (yes that actually happened), and a very good Red Star Belgrade side have booked us a quarter-final showdown against familiar foes Braga, and it is a very winnable tie. The Portuguese outfit are no pushovers though, but with some more magic, much like we saw from our very own Ryan Kent which dumped the side out in 2020, Rangers qualifying for the semi-final stages is a very real possibility.

Should that occur, it would leave the Ibrox faithful awaiting a tie against either Atalanta, or RB Leipzig.

On paper? Either should be a mismatch. However, we have seen over and over against from this Van Bronckhorst side in Europe that anything can happen. Dortmund is always brought up in occasions like this, and as it should. Rangers eliminated the competition FAVOURITES, stunning the German giants twice over the two legs and proving that anything can happen when Gio’s men take to the field in European action.

And should we make the final? Well, if we can eliminate Dortmund, Red Star AND either of the two semi-finalists listed, then Rangers have more than proven that they are able to take on anyone that the competition should see us face off against, and that applies to Xavi’s high-flying Barcelona side.

So, to answer the question, can Rangers realistically win the Europa League? The answer is yes. It will not be an easy task in the slightest, but the way that Giovanni Van Bronckhorst has guided a team, filled entirely with players not signed by himself, to the quarter-final stage proves that Rangers fans are more than allowed to dare to dream.

Either way, Rangers have done us greatly proud. Defying the odds and certainly exciting ‘Gers fans about what GVB could do with a team of his own next season, the Europa League campaign has been a smash hit for Rangers this season. But with five games separating Rangers from the biggest achievement Scottish football has ever seen in regards to modern standards, European glory coming to Govan is absolutely a sniggering matter no more.

Seville, brace yourselves…