Jens Petter Hauge has been watching Rangers since Steven Gerrard put them back on the European map.
The Norwegian international looked on admiringly as the former Liverpool star gradually rebuilt the Light Blues and turned them into something of a force again.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has now replaced Gerrard and taken the Ibrox giants to new heights – which would climax with victory in Wednesday’s Europa League Final.
But Hauge and his Eintracht Frankfurt teammates stand between Rangers and European glory – with the Germans determined to spoil the party.
Hauge admitted: “I have watched Rangers quite a lot. They did well when Steven Gerrard took over. They have a strong team.
"The derby with Celtic is always fun to watch. Football is a joy to watch and when you see teams like that it is great. Gerrard was building a great team and I just like to watch good football and top teams.
"He had been building up this team (before he left for Aston Villa) and I am not surprised they have reached the Final.
“They have played really well in Europe and last season they won the Scottish league. They are a strong team with a lot of qualities but we will be prepared for them.”
Rangers have already taken the Bundesliga scalps of Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.
Hauge has insisted they will get total respect from the Eintracht Frankfurt camp. When asked if German football fans were surprised by those upsets, he answered: “I think so. As we know from the Bundesliga, with Dortmund and Leipzig they are super teams and so strong.
“They are teams with a lot of quality players but Rangers used the strengths they have to beat them. We know we will need to perform well and we will be ready.”
It has been a season of transition for Eintracht Frankfurt and coach Oliver Glasner this season. They finished a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga but the main focus for most of the season has been their European run.
Eintracht are on an impressive 12-game unbeaten run that has seen them ease past the likes of Barcelona, Real Betis, West Ham, Royal Antwerp, Olympiacos and Fenerbahce on the way to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium finale.
Hauge stated: “This group has a lot of potential. We have struggled in the Bundesliga in the second part of the season but we have shown in Europe that we have a good team.
“A really strong team who can perform well when it matters. (Beating Barcelona) gives you a lot of confidence, as a player, as a team and a group.
“When you play matches like that and you perform and believe then it shows you can beat one of the best teams in the world.
“When we started this European campaign we knew we had a strong team who could go all the way.
“We kept building that confidence and that has been important. It will be a great night and for sure we will play our best football.
"West Ham were a really physical and strong team. The final might be a bit similar.
"West Ham have a lot of quality players but Rangers are a strong team. They are like us, they run and fight for each other. “It will be an exciting game.”
