'Why not?' - Derek Johnstone delivers verdict on Rangers Europa League draw, answers question on how far they can go

Steven Gerrard. (Photo by PressFocus/MB Media/Getty Images)

The Gers will face Royal Antwerp in the last 32 after learning their fate in Monday afternoon’s knockout draw.

The Belgian outfit finished second in their group behind Tottenham Hotspur, but did get one over on the Premier League leaders with a 1-0 victory back in October.

Spurs exacted revenge with a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture, but Johnstone believes that Ivan Leko’s men can still cause problems for the Glaswegian giants.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: “Anybody who has got to this stage is a decent side.

"They’ve obviously finished second in their group. Antwerp finished second in the group to Spurs, and Spurs only beat them 2-0 in London.

"They will be a decent side, but the way Rangers are playing and the confidence they have, especially in the Europa League, I think the manager will be reasonably pleased with that [draw].”

When asked if Rangers could take a “good run” at the Europa League this year, the former Ibrox striker said: “It all depends on the players.

"If the players can maintain the form that they’re in at this moment in time, then why not?

"But things can change very, very quickly in this game, as Liverpool realised a few weeks ago when they went to Aston Villa and lost seven goals. That’s how football is.

"But I think there’s a winning mentality about Rangers just now, and the players are buying into that, which is great.

"The longer that goes on, who knows how long that can go?”

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