THE questions were stacking up against Giovanni van Bronckhorst. For Arthur Numan, those critics had no credibility.

Van Bronckhorst found himself under the Ibrox spotlight like never before but he has come through the most testing and defining period of his tenure.

Now he has been backed to go on and deliver the silverware success that would silence his doubters once and for all as Rangers dare to dream at home and abroad this term.

Van Bronckhorst guided his side to two hugely significant wins last week as Braga were beaten in the Europa League and Celtic were conquered in the Scottish Cup.

Rangers have a semi-final with RB Leipzig to look forward to next Thursday night, while Hearts await at Hampden as Van Bronckhorst attempts to finish the domestic campaign on a high.

When Celtic won at Ibrox and took a step towards regaining the Premiership title, Van Bronckhorst's abilities and his future were queried by a sections of a support that feared the worst this term.

But former Light Blues hero Numan was pleased to see his compatriot have reasons to be cheerful once again as he celebrated the thrilling extra-time wins last week.

Numan said: "I'm delighted for the Rangers supporters to have so much to look forward to. I'm also thrilled for Giovanni. He deserves the highs of the past week.

"Some people have openly questioned if he is the right man to lead Rangers. For me, that was never a relevant question.

"He is the best man for the job and any kind of negative chat surrounding Giovanni must be dismissed and not given any credibility.

"I know that he is proud to be the manager of Rangers and he has been giving everything to make it a success. He has only been in the job for six months and has had just one transfer window.

"As time goes on, he will continue to improve things and changes will be made along the way. He is a talented coach and knows football inside out.

"But the focus right now, for everyone, has to be on beating Motherwell this weekend in the league and then preparing for the game against RB Leipzig."

The wins over Braga and Celtic have changed the mood amongst supporters and given the champions a timely shot in the arm as they prepare for a potentially historic end to the campaign.

Rangers are six points adrift of their Old Firm rivals heading into the post-split fixture schedule and make the journey to Fir Park on Saturday aiming to kick-on after back-to-back triumphs.

And Numan insists Van Bronckhorst's side can't afford to consider the title a lost cause having put so much into their Europa League and Scottish Cup campaigns.

"That was the best week Rangers have had under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and I hope there is more to come," Numan said.

"To defeat Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final was a sensational achievement. To do it in extra-time after playing 120 minutes against Sporting Braga just three days earlier made it all the more special. It showed the incredible will-to-win and desire in the Rangers squad.

"Now, we go into the final five weeks of the season with an excellent chance of silverware. It really is all to play for in three competitions.

"We have a great chance to win the Scottish Cup for the first time since 2009. We are also in the last four of a major European trophy.

"We trail Celtic by six points in the SPFL Premiership and with five games to go the odds are against us. But we must not give up.

"We have to make sure we win at Parkhead next month and then hope they slip up elsewhere in the other games."

Victory over Motherwell would set Rangers up nicely for their trip to Leipzig and the final derby clash of the season will await when they return to domestic duty next weekend.

The champions have the feel of forlorn challengers about them at present and it would still be a surprise if it is not Celtic who are holding aloft the Premiership silverware this term.

The Ibrox squad still have medals to compete for, though, and the chance is there for heroes to become legends. It is one that Numan hopes Van Bronckhorst's players will make the most of this term.

"The players have been superb and the way James Tavernier has led by example has been really pleasing," Numan told 5Stars. "He has played the role of a true captain in recent weeks.

"Others have also stepped up and things are looking very positive. I sense that the players feel they are on the verge of an unbelievable season and they are not about to let anyone or anything stand in their way.

"We are all in for a very interesting five weeks. Let's hope there are many more highs to come."