Philippe Clement is 'on the barricades' for Rangers as Europa League heroics prove the tide is turning at Ibrox

Philippe Clement insists he always believed Rangers could beat the odds to roar into the Europa League last 16.

UEFA's number crunchers gave the Ibrox side just a 10 percent chance of making the top eight of the league phase before taking on Clement’s compatriots Union Saint Gilloise. But a 2-1 win on a tense night in Glasgow combined with favours from five games elsewhere saw the Light Blues - who started the evening sitting 13th - sensationally sneak through on goal difference.

It means Rangers bypass next month’s play-offs to move directly into the last 16, where they face a March showdown against one of Anderlecht, Bodo/Glimt, Twente or Fenerbahce. Clement said: “We knew that we were in a good situation - but you're dependent on other results. But I'm most proud to be in the top eight with the group we faced. We had to play against four of the top teams. On the way, we played Lyon, Olympiacos, Man United and Tottenham and still qualified.

“I'm totally not busy with all these things like how much chance you have. In the past when we went with Brugge to Real Madrid and everybody said we had one percent chance. But we got results there and against Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig.

“No, it's about believing in yourself, in the team and making a good plan, a good structure, using our qualities and stopping the opponents. It's about every game believing in yourself and I believe that on the day we can win against every opponent, whoever it is.

“That's what the team showed when we played against Tottenham and Man Utd who are massive clubs. That belief you need to have otherwise it's no use going on the pitch.

“If you look at all the teams that finished behind us, these are really massive clubs with massive budgets. In this