At what point does the constant defying of expectation become normal?

When does the element of surprise become replaced by expectation?

Perhaps it’s not in the midst of a journey, but at its end and last night in Eindhoven, Rangers completed their own long path back to football’s elite. 12 years on from the last time they featured in Europe's premier club competition, they will play Champions League football again thanks to an Antonio Colak goal that capped a magnificent team showing.

Just like on the road to Seville, the gravitas of this result and its ramifications offered cause for reflection. From UFA and Steven Gerrard’s navigation through previously perilous qualifiers to the re-establishing stage that followed. If supporters thought this side was punching upwards then, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has blown such assumptions out the water since, building on Gerrard’s foundations and reaching heights in Europe that appeared previously unattainable.

But for all of the famous results enjoyed since 2018, none have taken place in the Champions League. To make one final step, Rangers needed everyone to reach a maximum collectively and a game plan that granted the upper hand. Both aspects came through.

“I was more relaxed than last week because of the way we played, we were very controlled,” van Bronckhorst said post-match.

“It feels great to win this game, to hear the final whistle at the end. We achieved what we wanted.”

Rangers’ route to the Philips Stadion was delayed by fans blocking the team bus which ensured a late arrival and delayed preparation. PSV supporters brought noise and colour but as soon as the game settled into a rhythm, it quickly became apparent that their team would have to work for control.

Just like last week, Malik Tillman and Tom Lawrence tucked inside ahead of a midfield pairing, this time comprising of John Lundstram and Glen Kamara. That created numerical superiority in the centre which the visitors could exploit with crisp execution in build-up play beyond pressure.

“It is a matter of coordinating the pressure and if that’s not done simultaneously and forwards go early or distances are too big, the opponent can find free players,” van Nistelrooy said after the game in reference to the regularity with which Rangers escaped pressure to scamper up the park.

Rangers Review:

The visitors were brave to coax in PSV's attack and punch the ball through it. Kamara’s press-resistant attributes were in full swing as he glided beyond markers, Tillman dragged Ibrahim Sangare into uncomfortable positions and Lawrence drifted in from the right to attack the space vacated.

For all the promise shown, a tie of this level was always going to require a mistake or moment of quality to dictate the outcome. As it turned out, both arrived in tandem.

PSV may have suffered from a lack of cohesion and coordination in their press, but Rangers got the measurements just right. Having squeezed their opponents in moments and threatened to pounce, Tillman stole in on Andre Ramalho’s blindside after the centre-back received a pass from his goalkeeper. Retaining composure, the 20-year-old set himself to square for Colak who netted unopposed.

"I’m not a fan of always building up even when there is high pressure so it is up to the players to make a decision,” van Nistelrooy added, demonstrating his frustration at the hosts’ decision to overplay.

“If it’s an obvious pass I allow the build-up but if there is a lot of pressure then I don’t. It’s not a thing that is demanded."

Contrastingly, van Bronckhorst praised his team’s decision-making.

“You have to choose your moments to press,” he said. “At times we sensed we could win the ball and the goal was a perfect opportunity.”

Thereafter with a lead to defend, the defensive unit held firm. Jon McLaughlin commanded his area and made a strong right-handed stop to keep the game at 1-0, Connor Goldson dominated aerially and James Sands mopped up anything that threatened danger. It was another intelligent defensive performance from the American who stood out once more.

PSV will look back on a couple of chances with regret but they never truly overpowered the visitors. That’s not to dispel the anguish and agony of that final half hour. In every home back in Glasgow, supporters would've nervously paced around living rooms and on the bench, van Bronckhorst did the same. He was constantly cajoling his team as if literally pulling them back into their dependable shape. When ahead, his side managed the game with maturity to slow any momentum that PSV threatened to build.

Full-time brought scenes of jubilation that felt so very far away after a 2-0 defeat against Union in the first leg of the previous round. But as has been said so many times before, this team in Europe should never be written off.

Within the events of a tumultuous decade, nights like this felt so very far away. After time spent wandering in the wilderness, Rangers have finally reached the promised land and nobody can say they don’t deserve it.