GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST watched on as Union Saint-Gilloise wrote a fairy tale chapter in their proud history and dared to dream of Belgian title glory.
But the Rangers boss knows there is no room for sentiment as his side aim to realise their own ambitions by clinching a spot in the group stages of the Champions League this term.
Few of the supporters who will take their seats at Den Dreef will be aware of how close USG came to a remarkable triumph as they secured promotion to the Jupiler Pro League and then set their sights on winning the division for the first time since 1935.
Union finished five points clear at the end of the regular season but would agonisingly miss out on the silverware as an impressive play-off run from Club Brugge saw them emerge as champions and secure their European golden ticket.
It is former assistant manager Karel Geraerts that will lead USG into the Champions League after he was promoted to the top job following Felice Mazzù's decision to join Anderlecht and replace the departed Vincent Kompany earlier this summer.
The visit of Rangers represents a return to European competition for a club who have eleven top flight titles to their name but who are one of the unknown quantities of the competition now that the play-offs are in sight this month.
Van Bronckhorst is well aware of the story and the success. He is, though, only focused on delivering group stage football to Ibrox as Rangers aim to build on their run to Seville and take the next step on the continent by securing Champions League football.
"First of all, of course I have seen Union last year and, as you said, the fairy tale of an amazing year of getting promoted from the first league into the main league and then pushing for the title," Van Bronckhorst said.
"It is an amazing story and in the end Union fell a bit short and Club Brugge were the champions. It is fantastic for them to even be pushing for the title, which means they are now in the Champions League.
"I have a lot of respect for the players and the coach, who moved on. The assistant took over and you can see a clear style of play.
"I know in Europe the name Union will not sound really familiar for most people but if you look at the way they play, I think they deserve to be in the Champions League contention to go into the group stage.
"We are preparing well. Of course Rangers is more well known, we have just been in the Europa League final, but every team in this round wants to go through and play in the group stage of the Champions League.
"We have to be on top of our game to overcome this opponent. We have a lot of respect for them and we are going to push ourselves and work really hard to win against Union over two games."
Rangers will be firm favourites to progress over the two ties and to move within one knockout victory of the group stages as they seek to take to the biggest stage of all for the first time since 2010.
The run to Seville last term ultimately ended in heartbreak for Van Bronckhorst. It has, though, added to the sense of excitement and expectation around Rangers as they return to continental competition.
Van Bronckhorst said: "If you reach the Europa League final, you will be seen as the favourite to go into the Champions League group stages as well.
"It is a very strong competition already in this round when you see all the teams competing for the last places. The pressure is always there, that is why we are involved at a big club with Rangers.
"For me that is always the case. We have the opportunity to have a good run in August in Europe and qualify for the group stages. That is our aim and that starts against Union."
As the old cliche goes, it will be one game at a time for Rangers. The challenge of Union will be respected and certainly not underestimated despite their satisfaction at the third qualifying round draw.
The four opponents that stand in their way - Dynamo Kiev, Sturm Graz, PSV or Monaco - will represent another step up should the next stage of the competition be reached but the ultimate goal is firmly within their sights this month.
"I played many times in the Champions League," Van Bronckhorst said. "At Feyenoord I coached in the Champions League so I know the competition is very tough, maybe the strongest club competition in the world.
"So to be involved in that competition would be fantastic for us. We have four games to realise that.
"It is the first leg in this tie. It’s a big opportunity for us. We will do our best and try everything to overcome Union and then see who we have to play."
Rangers will be boosted by the return of Rabbi Matondo and the arrival of Ridvan Yilmaz as they look to build on their Premiership victory over Livingston and make it two from two in competitive clashes this term.
The two-legged nature of European football presents a very different challenge to the domestic action. It is a situation Rangers have proven they are more than adept at coping with.
Van Bronckhorst said: "I think what we did really well last season, and also the seasons before, is to realise it’s two games.
"You want to enter the second game with a good opportunity to go through. I think we did that very well last year.
"We’ve had good preparation because we are playing against a very good side. The preparation is normal.
"Now we have to execute our gameplan and be at the best of our game over two times 90 minutes."
