Europa League final: Rangers legend urge players to be heroes

Rangers’ players will become heroes if they win the Europa League in Seville, according to Ibrox great Mark Hateley, who praised the club’s efforts in reaching the final.

The former England and Rangers striker described the encounter against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night as “huge” for the Glasgow club.

With less money in Scottish football than in other European leagues, he believes reaching the final is “up there with some of Scottish teams’ greatest achievements.”

“In the contemporary world of football, when cash is king and there isn’t a lot of money around in Scottish football, to be able to emulate the top echelons of European football teams, it’s incredible, it’s up there,” Hateley told media.

Rangers have been one of the finest teams in the competition, despite a sluggish start.

“They’ve improved and grown into it. I believe Gio’s (manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst) arrival has been beneficial to the football club and team.”

“He’s taken it and that belief and transformed us into finalists, and he’s done it in style,” he added.

Europa League final comes barely over a decade after Rangers went into administration, relegating the club to Scottish football’s third tier.

“It’s a fantastic period for the football club at the moment,” Hateley said.

“They’ve gone from near obscurity to heroes very, very rapidly during what has become a difficult period for them, coming back up the leagues.”

He went on to say that he hopes the team can “enjoy the final and become heroes.”

His remarks came as up to 100,000 Rangers fans are anticipated to attend the game in Seville.

Murdo Fraser, a Tory MSP who defines himself as a lifetime Rangers fan, will be in attendance.

“Having only received confirmation that I could acquire a ticket last Thursday, it was too late to book a direct flight because they had all been picked up,” he stated.

“As a lifelong Rangers supporter, I could not miss out on the chance to witness them play in a European final,” he said.