DIRK KUYT saw Ibrox at its best but knew Feyenoord were far from their peak. Now the Dutchman expects De Kuip to follow suit as Rangers look to hit the heights in the Europa League once again.

Steven Gerrard’s side got their Group G campaign off to the perfect start with a 1-0 win against Feyenoord in September. A repeat result second time around could clinch qualification.

The Light Blues have continued to improve and impress since that memorable night as Sheyi Ojo netted the only goal of the game but their hosts on Thursday evening have endured a difficult season.

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It is former Ibrox boss Dick Advocaat that will stand opposite Gerrard tomorrow night after he replaced Jaap Stam in the dugout.

And Kuyt - who had two spells with Feyenoord as a player - hopes Advocaat can turn the tables on Gerrard and the Gers to keep their own qualification hopes alive.

“There might be a bit of revenge,” he said. “I saw the game and, to be honest, Rangers deserved to win that game. In Rotterdam, it will be a different game.

“We were talking about the group stage and it is an interesting one. It will be a very exciting game. We will see what happens but it is going to be exciting.

“I was amazed by the fans at Ibrox a few weeks ago and they also amazed me during the Legends match. It is unbelievable to have more than 30,000 and they put a lot into it. It was amazing.

“It was a memorable night in the Europa League when Feyenoord were there but, of course, I wasn’t happy about the result because I am a Feyenoord man.

“The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing but I can assure that in Rotterdam it will be the same. That will be very good.

“Feyenoord are a team that are developing at the moment and they have a lot of young players. They were not used to playing in Europe for a while so they learned a lot from that match.”

Rangers failed to build on that opening night win as they were beaten in Bern a fortnight later but four points from the double-header with Porto have given them a real chance of reaching the next stage of the competition this term.

A point in Rotterdam would be enough to take them through should Young Boys avoid defeat at home to third-placed Porto.

The Gers are getting better all the time and Kuyt knows Feyenoord will need to raise their game to avoid an early Group G exit.

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He said: “I am sure when Rangers come they will be even better and will have progressed more than they already have.

“It is going to be a very interesting game and the Feyenoord team are learning all the time and from games like that one against Rangers.

“It was a tough game for them at Ibrox but I think it will also be a tough game for Rangers when they come to Rotterdam.

“I gave Stevie a bit of advice about the Porto team because we always try to help each other when we can. But once you get in awkward situation we are professionals and we respect that. That is also what Stevie is all about.

“If you know Stevie, he know that he will always prepare himself and his team very, very well. He will know everything about Feyenoord, like he does about Young Boys and Porto. I am sure when the game comes up in Rotterdam he will have prepared very well.”

The appointment of Gerrard has proven to be the catalyst for major change at Ibrox as the Liverpool legend has transformed Rangers’ fortunes on and off the park.

Kuyt spent six years alongside Gerrard at Anfield and formed a friendship with the 39-year-old.

That will be put to one side for the European clash but he is pleased to see Gerrard thriving in his first managerial role.

Kuyt said: “It is not a surprise at all to see his impact here because he already did that as a player and he took everyone with him to get everything out of the team, to get the maximum from himself and others.

“That was not only in the games, it was in every training session and he wanted to be the best.

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“He doesn’t want to be the best on his own, but as a team. I think when you see him managing, he is trying to do the same.

“He gives a lot of effort to the team and he has surrounded himself with other good people who work with him, who he can trust and they are quality people in their job. That is how he works.

“He works every day to be the best and I think he is already successful. The future, he will only be more successful.”

Such was the relationship between Gerrard and Kuyt, the midfielder turned out in a testimonial match for the Dutchman last May.

The pair were back on the same park in October as Rangers and Liverpool legends met in a friendly and Gerrard turned out for his former club and his present employers. For Kuyt, it was an occasion to savour as he and Gerrard were reunited at Ibrox.

He said: “I love to play in these kind of games and it is always an honour to come back and play a game for the Liverpool Legends. It was a great game with a fantastic crowd and I really enjoyed it a lot.

“It is always nice to play with Stevie again and, as we said after the match, we are still unbeaten. Even though Stevie played the last couple of minutes with Rangers.

“That was fantastic for the crowd and the Rangers fans. It was another win for us and we enjoyed it.”