We are in Europa to flourish, says Kent

RYAN KENT insists Rangers did not fight their way into the Europa League group stage simply to make up the numbers. The Ibrox side begin their Group G campaign with a testing trip to face La Liga outfit Villarreal on Thursday. Steven Gerrard’s men are the lowest seeds in their section — which also includes Spartak Moscow and Rapid Vienna— but Liverpool loanee Kent believes they can strive for a top-two finish and qualification for the knockout stage. ‘We will take it one game at a time and see how we are doing,’ said Kent. ‘But obviously we want to progress. We are in the competition, so I don’t see why we can’t progress. ‘First of all, as a young player, Europe is the biggest

stage you want to be playing on. It is massive for the team. ‘We want to enjoy it.’ Having come through four qualifying ties to put Rangers back on the European map, the 21-year-old winger feels they received a well-timed boost ahead of their Spanish mission with Saturday’s 4-0 comfortable Premiership success over Dundee. That result got Gerrard’s side back to winning ways following the club’s Old Firm defeat earlier in the month, although the Ibrox manager was still unhappy with aspects of the performance. ‘The biggest thing about the Dundee match was to bounce back from the last game and get the result,’ said Kent, who scored his first Rangers goal against Neil McCann’s men. ‘I think we will go over there (to Villarreal) with confidence and enjoy the game. ‘Our performances have proved that we deserve a place in the group stage.’