SIEBE VAN DER HEYDEN is dreaming of Champions League heaven. First, he will live through an Ibrox hell with Union Saint-Gilloise.
Victory over Rangers on Tuesday evening stands as the finest result in the history of the club and another next week would see the bar raised once again and a play-off berth secured.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst described the rise and rise of Union as a 'fairy tale' both before and after the first leg defeat that has piled the pressure on his players just a week into the campaign.
It would be understandable for the Belgians to get caught up in the significance of their achievement but there is a realisation that the job is far from done. Winning on home soil is one thing, but avoiding defeat in Glasgow is quite another.
The Ibrox factor is just one of the cards that Van Bronckhorst has in his favour ahead of the return the leg and the Dutchman will need those on and off the park to be at their best if the Champions League aspirations are to continue into a meeting with either Monaco or PSV Eindhoven this month.
The run to Seville showcased the stadium and the support at its best and the nights against Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade and Braga still resonate. The win over RB Leipzig may never be topped.
If Rangers can somehow pull off a great escape, the occasion would be special in its own right, though, and van der Heyden is well aware of what awaits Karel Geraerts and his Union side second time around.
“It was fantastic," van der Heyden said. "The whole team was concentrated from the start, which was necessary against a very good opponent.
“Rangers made it to the Europa League final last year so we had to be fully aware for the whole match.
“It was a great result for the team but there is still a game waiting for us in Glasgow and it will be very tough for us, even with a 2-0 lead.
“I’m not scared [of Ibrox]. I’m really confident in my team but we know it will be hell for us there.
“We know there will be 50,000 fans there screaming at us for 90 minutes.
“We have to be concentrated from the beginning. The first 20 minutes especially will be very important for us to stay in our shape and not switch off.
“I’m someone who looks at our own performance and I think we did very well.
“We stayed in a block and were just waiting for them and in the right moments we tried to attack in our way."
The scenes of celebration at the whistle told their own story in Belgium as Union completed a lap of honour around Den Dreef, their temporary home for European action, and took the acclaim of a crowd who have witnessed a remarkable time in the history of the Brussels club.
USG came within touching distance of the First Division title last term and they now stand just 90 minutes away from a shot at the group stages after goals in either half from Teddy Teuma and Dante Vanzeir earned them a deserved victory.
In truth, it could have been even more comprehensive on the night. That would have rendered the second leg almost meaningless but the Belgians still have work to do to inflict another painful Champions League exit on Rangers.
“Yeah it’s the biggest," van der Heyden said when asked about the result in the history of Union. "It’s 58 years since the club was last in European football, so you know this is big.
“You saw at the end, all the fans standing up and cheering us. The whole stadium was on its feet.
"It was amazing. But I don’t want to say we’re favourites to go through.
“As I said, it will be hell in Glasgow. We will have to be switched on from the first minute because they are going to push us, for sure.
“I think we played well last season but now it’s a new season and we need to prove we can do the same.
“It won’t be easy at all but we have a team with a big mentality and a good football style. I think we can go far with this."
The penalty that Vanzeir slotted home with 15 minutes remaining could prove to be the decisive moment in the tie as Union's lead was doubled and the reality of the situation set in for Rangers.
The Belgian forward was an impressive performer on the night and he would earn special recognition for stepping up and delivering when needed for USG.
A miss from 12 yards against Brugge last term proved costly in a tight title race. This time, Vanzeir made no mistake as he beat Jon McLaughlin to change the complexion of the tie.
Van der Heyden said: “Honestly, I’m so happy for him. It will give him the extra confidence which he needs.
“I’m so proud of him that he took the responsibility to take that penalty. You need big balls for that situation and he showed he has them."
It was a night for heroes to emerge for Union as their key men stood up to be counted and delivered when it mattered most for themselves and for each other.
The same praise cannot be directed towards Rangers. The failings were individual and collective and the problems must be solved as a matter of urgency as attentions turn to Ibrox next week.
“It’s not just me," van der Heyden said of his battle with winger Rabbi Matondo as the summer signing was rendered ineffective on his competitive debut for Rangers. "It was the whole team.
“We did well. We kept our shape. We stayed together and we stopped Rangers creating.
“He was my direct opponent but it was a team effort to make sure we did concede.
“My defence covered me well when I had to go forward so we can all take credit from the result."
