Kris Boyd insists the ‘togetherness’ in the Rangers squad is a huge factor in the team defying the odds to set up a Europa League final clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Gio van Bronckhorst’s side added RB Leipzig to a list of scalps that already includes Borussia Dortmund, Braga and Red Star Belgrade when they overcame the Germans at an emotionally-charged Ibrox on Thursday.
Former striker Boyd was part of the Rangers side that was beaten in the 2008 UEFA Cup final by Zenit St Petersburg and has heaped praise on the spirit within van Bronckhorst’s team.
He said: “The real togetherness of this team is something you can't buy and it's going to get stronger now.
“I look back to our team in 2008 that managed to get there, that togetherness never say die attitude, the manager plays a massive part in that.
“Buying into his tactics, buying into exactly what he wants to do, trusting him, trusting your players, that's how you get results. “Rangers to a man were unbelievable.
They deserved it, this isn't a fluke. They've knocked out the big guns in European football, Borussia Dortmund, toppled RB Leipzig - Champions League teams.
“It’s that special feeing of getting to a major final of a European competition, it’s impossible for Rangers to compete with the elite of Europe in terms of finances and with wages but that team spirit and togetherness can take you a long way and that’s what happened.
“Rangers will fancy their chances, Eintracht Frankfurt are 11th in the Bundesliga and Rangers have already knock out Borussia Dortmund and RB Liepzig.”
Boyd insists van Bronckhorst and former boss Steven Gerrard, who left for Aston Villa in November, have both played a part in Rangers’ incredible European run.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: “Steven Gerrard deserves a lot of praise as well for the way Rangers have grown as a club in European football, he is that one that started it all and Gio’s tactics were spot on in Germany and spot on at Ibrox.
“What a fantastic achievement.
“The team was outsanding, there were periods they had to defend but they scored three goals at home.”
