Hagi tips Rangers to emulate 2022 Europa heroics

Ianis Hagi is desperate to return to Rangers' European squad for the knockout phase of the Europa League - and can see similarities this season with the memorable run to the 2022 final.

The Romania playmaker was left out of Rangers' pool for the first part of their European campaign because of a contract issue.

However he is a key component in the team again and manager Philippe Clement can change three players in his squad for the last-16 tie that will be held in March.

The Ibrox club will meet one of Bodo/Glimt, Twente, Anderlecht or Fenerbahce after the 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise that secured a top-eight spot in the first phase table.

"It goes without saying that I want to be there also for the European nights," said Hagi after scoring twice in Sunday's 4-0 victory against Ross County.

"I've always enjoyed the European nights and hopefully I can help the team in them and not only the domestic games.

"It's difficult when you don't play at all in any type of game, not only European games. I want to be on the pitch for a full 90 minutes. That's my mentality.

"But I'm probably speaking for every player in the dressing room - they want to be there as much as possible in the pitch."

Hagi was involved in the early games in Rangers' memorable run to the Europa League final in 2022 before he seriously injured his knee.

He is hoping for a repeat of the memorable campaign that took Rangers to the final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

"That European run was fantastic, considering how we started with the Alashkert game here, going down to 10 men after what, 20 minutes, and still getting into the group stages," he added.

"Everybody did his own job back then, obviously myself in the group stages. Then I got injured.

"I scored that goal away against Brondby [in a 1-1 draw] and it kept our chances alive to get out of the group stages.

"And then everybody did it his own job until the final. It's definitely special when you get that momentum. I feel like we're having that this season. You never know what can happen."