Lech Poznan coach Dariusz Zuraw was gracious in defeat as Rangers swept his team aside 2-0 in the final Europa League group stage match on Thursday, while speaking to Epoznan.
If last night’s clash in Poland was little more than a dead rubber, no one told Steven Gerrard’s side.
Despite sealing their place in the knockout stages with a 3-2 triumph over Standard Liege last week, Rangers produced another classy, commanding and thoroughly professional performance as they extended their unbeaten run this season to 26 games.
Swiss striker Cedric Itten capped a rare start with a brilliantly taken opener, driving the ball into the roof of the net during what was an almost faultless centre-forward performance.
The similarly seldom-seen Ianis Hagi scored the second late on, after a looping Connor Goldson header came back off the bar.
The result means Rangers topped the standings ahead of Benfica, while accumulating more points (14) than any other Scottish team in a European group-stage.
“Congratulations to the Rangers on their victory and promotion. The visitors dominated the pitch. After scoring the first goal, they took control,” Zuraw said.
“In the second half, we had basically no chances to threaten them, so they deserved the victory.”
Gerrard made seven changes from the team that thrashed Ross County 4-0 at the weekend. Clearly, this is a Rangers side with serious strength in depth; arguably the finest crop of players to wear the blue shirt since Alex McLeish’s side came so close to European glory 12 years ago.
Scott Arfield impressed in a deeper role on Thursday, Nathan Patterson made his mark while Glen Kamara was exceptional once again.
Summer signing Bongani Zungu, meanwhile, gives Rangers something different, more physical and aggressive, in the middle of the park. If Steven Davis is a distributor, Zungu is the destroyer.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
