Rangers winger Daniel Candeias has showered praise on the club's fans, stressing their importance for the Gers and insisting that they were like a 12th man for the team during the Europa League clash against Villarreal.
Steven Gerrad’s men marked their return to the group stage of a European competition with a positive 2-2 draw against Villarreal on Thursday.
The Portuguese had a memorable outing against the Spanish La Liga outfit during Rangers’ Europa League opener at the Estadio de la Cermica in Villarreal when he grabbed the assist for Scott Arfield’s goal.
The clash between the two sides was termed to be a ‘high-risk’ tie by Villarreal due to the history associated to the fixture and the 2,200 supporters who travelled from Glasgow ensured that they got behind their team.
Candeias, who was withdrawn after Rangers equalised for the second time on the night, admitted that the fans played a huge role in making it a special night for everyone involved with Old Firm giants.
The winger also added that the fans were like a 12th man for the team, as they fought back twice to salvage a point away from home against a very experienced and professional Villarreal side.
“We’ll take that great result for us and keep going. When the team believes, it is perfect”, Candeias told Rangers TV.
“When you play together as a family, it is fantastic and the supporters came here tonight and were great too.
“In all the games, the supporters are very, very important and I think tonight they were the 12th player.
"It is a huge well done to the supporters”, he added.
Candeias will be aiming to keep up his good form to try and cement his place in the starting eleven ahead of Rangers' weekend meeting with St Johnstone.
