Whittaker confident

STEVEN WHITTAKER insists Rangers have ‘every chance’ of lifting the Europa League silverware in Seville as they prepare for their shot at glory next week.

The former defender was part of the last Ibrox outfit to reach a European final as Walter Smith’s side made it all the way to Manchester in 2008.

Rangers saw off the likes of Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina on that occasion before agonisingly coming up short and losing to Zenit St Petersburg.

Now Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have the chance to go one better and write their names in the history books in the 50th anniversary season of the Barcelona Bears.

Whittaker will watch the action unfold alongside former Celtic captain Scott Brown after he agreed a deal to follow his longtime friend to Fleetwood Town.

Whittaker said: “We will find a quiet corner somewhere. I’m desperate to watch the game.

“It’s a magnificent achievement and it’s great to see the team back fighting at the top level.

“My first season at Rangers was just a whirlwind. It was game after game, success after success.

“We won both domestic cups, we lost the league on the last day and we went all the way to the UEFA Cup final. It was one thing after another. Going from Hibs to that in my first season, I thought ‘This is where I want to be’.

“They have every chance. They have put in some great performances in the competition.

“They put out the favourites and beat two German sides who are higher in the league than Frankfurt. It’s an opportunity that is there. They

need a little bit of luck on the day.”