Craig Moore insists the road to Seville for Rangers has been a story of triumph over adversity and the desire to follow heroes and legends into club immortality.
The former Light Blues skipper believes an emotional undercurrent has been driving a Europa League campaign that will now lead to a climax in the final against Eintracht Frankfurt on May 18.
After another astonishing Ibrox night of drama, a 3-1 win over RB Leipzig lining up a final spot against the Germans, Moore believes a season where the club has lost iconic servants Walter Smith and Jimmy Bell now has an unsung group of players walking in the footsteps of Gers giants.
He said: “The amazing thing about this group of players has been the fact they don’t have much gold dust. All season they have been there to be shot at in terms of how things have been going domestically at times.
“They just keep picking themselves up and finding ways of achieving greatness.
“It’s not only been a really tough week for the club, it’s been a really tough year in terms of losing heroes and legends.
“Walter and most recently Jimmy are true legends of this club and it’s a huge loss not to have them around.
“There would be no more fitting tribute to them than a set of players making heroes and legends of themselves.
“The journey to the final has been all about a collective team effort. So much of the goal threat in Europe has come through Alfredo Morelos who’s been a huge player for Rangers.
“But he’s been missing and all of a sudden they’ve been going into massive games without an out-and-out striker.
“Look at how well they’ve adapted and found a way.
“They’ve just scored three at home in a European semi-final.
“It’s incredible to see how well they have dealt with any adversity that has come their way.”
Moore also insists the arrival of Dutchman Gio van Bronckhorst last November in place of Steven Gerrard has been a slow burner.
But he’s now gaining credit for what Moore believes has been a succession of European masterstrokes.
He said: “From a European perspective, playing in these games has really suited Rangers and their style of play. Gerrard did a fantastic job but you have to take your hat off to Gio for what he’s achieved since coming in earlier this season.
“The credit has to go to him for what he’s done in Europe as tactically he’s managed to get it absolutely bang on the money.
“What has been achieved is absolutely incredible.
“I was fortunate to spend a long time at the club but never managed to enjoy the type of success in Europe which this group of players have unbelievably achieved this season.
“It’s not just about this campaign, if you track their performances in Europe over the last two or three seasons then they’ve been fantastic.
“To hear and see the support on Thursday night and a stadium
which was literally bouncing was amazing, it’s just been an incredible achievement.”
The journey back from the basement of Scottish football has been well documented and Moore believes the end game of Rangers showcasing the best of themselves across the globe during the Europa League campaign should not be taken for granted.
He said: “People should not underestimate just how much exposure Ibrox and Rangers as a club have had across Europe in terms of the history and how they are known throughout the world.
“What has been achieved this season really pushes that brand back out there again.
“Look at the Leipzig boss Domenico Tedesco who came out after the game at Ibrox and said he’s never seen anything like it. That’s an incredible thing for a boss of a huge Bundesliga club to say.
“I’ve been fortunate to see Ibrox in that kind of bouncing mode during my playing career.
“It was on a night in 1999 when I played in a Champions League qualifier against Parma and it’s been the same on other really big nights.
“This is a stadium, which on these special European nights, produces some absolute greatness.
“I’ve seen some really good players and some really good teams come to Ibrox and struggle under the demand – and that’s due to the unbelievable support that the players get.
“It’s a tough place to go to if you are the away side but also a really fantastic place to play at, especially as a Rangers player.”
Moore also paid tribute to the role played by the Rangers fans against Leipzig in midweek after James Tavernier’s early opener had sent them into dreamland.
The Aussie said: “It was the perfect start with Tav scoring early as it settled everyone down.
“An absolute dream start and it gave the fans the chance to make their impact on the game.
“They were well and truly needed, especially in the second half when Leipzig enjoyed some possession.
“They scored their goal and had a good spell of pressure but the supporters just raised the roof again and lifted the team over the line.
“You could see the energy after John Lundstram’s goal. After all the football this team has played, it was incredible.”
