GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST believes that Ryan Kent’s second-half strike in Belgrade arrived at just the right time as the Rangers manager saluted his players’ performance in Serbia.

An early goal from Red Star lifted the mood of the raucous home crowd and the players responded by asking serious questions of their opponents before Kent killed off any real hope of a comeback with a deflected effort at goal.

A late penalty secured a win on the night for Red Star but it is Rangers who progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League – marking the first time the Glasgow club have reached the final eight since their run to the UEFA Cup final in 2008.

“I am very proud,” Van Bronckhorst told BT Sport. “It is a great achievement to reach the last eight in the Europa League.

“A lot had been said before the game and we knew it was going to be difficult. I think we started really well, they weren’t in the game, but then one set-piece and they got the belief because when you score early, it always gives you belief.

“In the second half I think we scored at the right moment because if we had conceded a second goal they were pushing us really hard. At 1-1 you saw the belief for them was getting weaker.

“We could have scored a second one as well but I think we were defending really well in the second half.

“We didn’t give any space away and they were looking for balls in behind the defence all the time. We pushed Calvin [Bassey] inside and let Ryan [Kent] mark his full-back and I think that worked really well in the second half. I’m more than happy for everyone involved in this club.”

The performances of Allan McGregor have come under heavy scrutiny in recent weeks but the veteran shot-stopped was at his best in the heat of the Marakana, producing a string of saves at 1-0 to maintain some breathing space between Rangers and Red Star.

“At moment when he needs to be there, he is there,” Van Bronckhorst said of his goalkeeper. “He had some good saves again so I’m really happy with his performance and what he gives to the team.

“Even at his age he is still important for us so I am more than happy for him and for every player because we gave everything to make the club proud and we did that today.”

With Rangers in the hat for Friday’s draw, supporters of the Premiership champions wouldn’t be human if they weren’t dreaming of watching their side go all the way. Just four matches separate the Ibrox club from May’s final in Seville and Van Bronckorst admits that confidence is growing as the team progress in Europe.

“The belief is only getting stronger of course,” he added. “We take it tie by tie and in the last eight there are big teams left in the draw, so we have to wait and see tomorrow.

“Again it is two big games for us to develop ourselves as a team and to maybe reach one step further. That will always be the goal but the opponent will be stronger each round we go further.

“We have had good results, especially in the last round against Dortmund. It is the kind of result that all of Europe thinks about, it was an amazing accomplishment for us.

“Coming to Red Star’s ground is very complicated but I think we had a good foundation with the 3-0 win last week. Today we played very well and very concentrated.

“We are going to enjoy tonight and then prepare for Dundee on Sunday before we go on a break. We will lose a lot of players when they go to their countries so the aim now is to let them leave with three points won on Sunday.”