Numan faced PSV as a Rangers player in 1999

Arthur Numan believes his former clubs, Rangers and PSV Eindhoven, have already defied the odds in Europe this season.

PSV host Rangers in the first-leg tie of the Europa last 16 on Thursday.

"In Scotland and Holland, the clubs can never compete in terms of finance with teams in England, Spain or Italy," Numan said.

"To survive to this stage is already a great achievement. It's great for Rangers to get to this stage in Europe, but also for PSV."

Former Dutch international Numan left PSV after six years to join Rangers in 1998 and spent five seasons at Ibrox.

"I'm more than happy to see either Rangers or PSV going to the next stage," said Numan. "I'm always very diplomatic.

"When I heard the results and saw that PSV and Rangers were playing against each other, I thought it was great.

Rangers, always plays the same system, with five at the back, four in the midfield and one up front. PSV play more attacking football. So it's two different systems playing against each other and that makes it interesting Arthur Numan

"I played for six years at PSV and I had a fantastic time there. I played five years for Rangers and it was exactly the same."

Having had two teams enter the Champions League in recent seasons, Scotland will have only one side in Europe's premier competition for season 2011/12.

However, Scotland will get two spaces again the following season.

"It will be difficult, more difficult for Rangers and Celtic than it was a couple of years ago because of the financial situation," said Numan.

"And it will be even more difficult again in the next couple of years to compete with teams in England, Spain and Italy.

"Rangers and Celtic at the start of the season get £2m or £3m and in England they get £30m or £40m.

"How can you compete with them? It's already a challenge for teams like Rangers and PSV Eindhoven to do well in Europe.

"All the attention goes to the Champions League because that is the big league, the big competition with all the top teams.

"But this competition can be interesting as well and we saw over the last few years that Rangers and Celtic managed to reach the final and that was a fantastic achievement."

Both Walter Smith's Rangers side and PSV are still in contention to win their respective domestic leagues and Numan expects a contrast in style when the pair meet.

"With Rangers, I don't think it's a surprise how they play away in Europe, Walter always plays the same system, with five at the back, four in the midfield and one up front," added Numan.

"PSV play more attacking football, sometimes they play with three strikers, sometimes with two strikers. So it's two different systems playing against each other and that makes it interesting.

"European football is over two legs. Rangers had just lost against Celtic and some people thought they had no chance in Portugal (against Sporting in the previous round), but they got the result that gave everybody a boost. European games are always different.

"I always enjoyed the occasion, the atmosphere was different and the supporters always look forward to playing against the big teams in Europe.

"I think over the two legs there will be a good atmosphere and, hopefully, two good games."

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