FILIP HELANDER savoured the acclaim of the Light Blue legions as he took his first steps onto the Ibrox park during the friendly win over Marseille.

Now the defender wants to give Rangers fans more reasons to be cheerful once the competitive action really gets up and running this season.

The deal for Helander was completed on Saturday afternoon as he made the move from Bologna and put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal with the Gers.

At around £3million, his capture represents a significant move in the transfer market and boss Steven Gerrard has no doubts that it will be money well spent in the coming weeks, months and years.

Helander is the eighth signing that Gerrard has made this summer as he prepares for his second term at Ibrox and one which has to yield silverware after Rangers were left empty-handed once again last season.

The 4-0 victory over Marseille will count for nothing come the end of the campaign but Helander is confident he, and Rangers, can go from strength to strength this season.

He said: “I really enjoyed watching the match and going onto the pitch. To meet the fans is always nice. It was a special moment.

“This is a very big club and the perfect opportunity for me to play at a high level.

“I wanted to play here. I know a lot about this club. From the first moment I heard about the interest, I wanted to come here.

“I spoke to my agent and from there on it continued. It was quite an easy choice.

“You can see today, it was a friendly match and there are more than 25,000 people inside the stadium. That is what you want as a football player. You want that interest and to be able to play in front of a lot of people.

“European football was one of the main reasons. I have played in Europe with Malmo before and it is something I wanted to do again.

“Of course it is [possible to stop Celtic]. But it is a long season and we are going to play a lot of important games. We just have to take them one at a time.

“I haven’t seen Celtic so I don’t know what quality they have got. But we have a strong team, absolutely.”

The win over Marseille – earned thanks to a first half brace from Daniel Candeias and efforts from Connor Goldson and Jermain Defoe after the break – came just days after Rangers played their first competitive fixture of the season against St Joseph’s.

Helander won’t be eligible to play in the Europa League return leg on Thursday night but he is eager to get down to business in Light Blue this term.

He said: “I have just come back from vacation and was about to start pre-season with Bologna. So I am a little bit after, but I will be ready in a week.

“I think [my experience] is going to be important. But this is a new club and the circumstances are different. I wanted to come here and try to win titles like we did in Malmo.

“For every player, when you come to a club, whatever club you represent, you try to do the maximum, no matter what you cost.

“Of course it matters [that Gerrard is the manager]. I saw him a lot as a kid. He was a fantastic player and from what I’ve seen so far he is also a great manager. I spoke to him.

“We had a short chat and everything sounded good. But I had already decided that I wanted to join Rangers.”

Helander has arrived at Ibrox with an impressive pedigree after turning out for Malmo in his homeland and then Verona and Bologna in Serie A.

The 26-year-old has established himself for Sweden in recent years as well and is poised to become an integral part of Gerrard’s squad this term.

Helander said: “As a Swede growing up I saw Henrik Larsson a bit, so I have watched Old Firm games before.

“I knew Rangers were a big club and then I saw them in Europe as well. I can’t wait to play in the Old Firm games and in Europe.

“I was in the first-team squad when Rangers played Malmo in 2011 but I didn’t play in the games.

“Rangers are a massive club and I wanted to enjoy a new experience. I want to play for a team with a winning mentality, who fight for the title every year.

“When I played for Malmo as a kid they had the same mentality as Rangers in that you need to win every game and win titles. I think that can be perfect to me.

“I have played at a high level for a long time, and even though I am only 26, I have a lot of experience and hopefully I can bring that to the team.

“I am a team player and I will give everything for the club and you need that at Rangers.

“I am very excited and happy to be here. I have a good first impression of the club and I can’t wait to get started.”