A 2-0 win for Gers over Lech Poznan featured manager Steven Gerrard making seven changes to his starting team – but that didn’t affect the Light Blues at all as they turned in a super display to reach the knockouts.
McLaughlin was undoubtedly pleased for himself, but insisted the majority of his pride tonight is with his teammates for this fantastic achievement.
He told RangersTV in Poznan: "It was great. It is another memento in your career and to chalk something like that up is fantastic for me personally.
"More importantly though, it is for the team, and for there to be changes again but to see that it hasn't weakened the team, and we can still come to very tough European nights like that and get the job done.
"So I am sure for the gaffer and for the staff as well it is very pleasing that they can make those changes and see that they have got a very strong squad, not just an 11.
"The boys are elated. It is a great achievement again to go through to the knockout stages and to do it in style the way they have in the group.
"Like the gaffer said, we haven't just survived a tough group, we have strolled through it.
"We have had to work hard in every game, but we have executed in every single one of those and to go through with 14 points from a tough group like that is a huge achievement."
McLaughlin kept yet another clean sheet for the Light Blues tonight, and he was full of praise for his defence in helping him do that.
He continued: "They make it very easy for you! I had very little to do in the game so it was great to be able to play behind that.
"From front to back, the team defend so well and work so hard and press all over the pitch.
"We don't give teams a chance to get a foot in the game, and we have made it a comfortable night for ourselves once again, so that was very pleasing for me and for the team again." It’s on now to Dundee United for Gers in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday, with
McLaughlin adding: "It's another test in a different way. The manager will make sure the last thing he says before we leave the dressing room is now we switch the focus straight away back to the league, back to our next opponent which is Dundee United now for us.
"We have to go there and put in another really strong performance as it will be another tough test.
"We have seen in the league that it is going to be very close and very tough all the way and we don't want to drop any more points.
"It is another big test for us come Sunday."
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