Andy Halliday has insisted that Rangers are looking forward to proving their mettle in the Europa League despite being placed in a tough group.
The Glasgow giants are back in European football this season and went through a tough qualifying round of games to make it to the group stage of the Europa League.
Rangers have been placed in Group G, alongside La Liga outfit Villarreal, Austrians Rapid Vienna and Russian giants Spartak Moscow and not many are expecting them to qualify for the round of 32.
Halliday feels that Rangers are in a Champions League quality group, but he is excited to get the chance to play at such a level, against teams of such quality.
He feels a club of Rangers’ stature must aspire to play against such quality opposition and he is looking forward to the European nights at Ibrox this season.
The midfielder told Rangers TV: “When you look at the group, it seems like a Champions League-standard group.
“Villarreal and Spartak Moscow have been there or thereabouts in the Champions League the last few seasons and I am sure Vienna will be a very tough opponent as well."
Halliday insists however that Rangers can have no complaints as he believes they should be locking horns with quality teams.
“It is the type of opposition we should be expecting to play against when you are at Rangers.
"It is good to get us back into those European nights and I have always said those nights under the lights at Ibrox are just that wee bit more special.
“I can’t wait until Thursday comes and for the rest of the Group Stage.”
Rangers will travel to Spain later this week to take on Villarreal in their first group game on Thursday night – and Halliday is excited.
“It is very exciting and it is where we want to be. We worked very hard to get to the group stage, but now we are willing to show ourselves on that stage.”
