BARRY FERGUSON says he learned a lot about the character of his Rangers players on Thursday night.
Well, he’ll find out even more about them this weekend.
Barry Ferguson has already faced some big challenges in the Gers dugout[/caption]
Kris Boyd has challenged Ferguson’s players to show even more character on Sunday[/caption]
Gers are once again flying the flag for Scotland in Europe after reaching the last eight of the Europa League.
It wasn’t an easy shift at Ibrox, but the work was done in Istanbul and they deserved to go through.
Jack Butland produced the goods when his team needed him, just like he did in the first leg.
Ibrox erupted when Fenerbahce missed the decisive penalty to send Rangers into the quarter-finals.
The fans who have suffered so much this season deserved a night like that as they dare to dream again.
Ferguson celebrated with his players on the pitch before quickly turning his attention to their visit to Parkhead.
Quite rightly, he will demand the same focus from his squad, no matter how tired they are.
The Europa League is Rangers’ priority now, but domestically you don’t get any free passes at this club.
To borrow a phrase from American football, can they do it on a Sunday?
Yes, Celtic are favourites to win and move a step closer to the title.
But Gers have a chance to at least delay Celts clinching the title, and Ferguson will demand that they do that.
There were bruised and battered bodies the morning after the night before.
Every single player gave their maximum to get Rangers past the Turks and into the last eight. Now they need to lift themselves and go again at Parkhead.
Tiredness has never been an acceptable excuse at Ibrox. This is an Old Firm derby. Every single player has to be ready to put their body on the line.
Those are the demands Ferguson put on himself during his career, and he’ll ask the same of his players.
If they want to have success at Rangers going forward, they will need to show they can cope with it.
They will be fatigued, Celtic will be fresh, but that’s life. It comes with the territory. I guarantee you Brendan Rodgers would have rather had a European game in midweek than a day off.
How Gers rated against Fenerbahce
Jack Butland – goalie hardly had a thing to do until he was given no chance at Fenerbahce opener. Two saves in the shoot-out made him the hero 8
James Tavernier – right centre-back of the three again. Caught out by deflected cross at Fenerbahce opener then failed to block Szymanski’s second. Crucial block then late goal saving intervention and free-kick saved 7
John Souttar – immense in Istanbul and aggressive from the off again last night. Booked for hauling back Talisca and will miss first leg of quarter-final. Won second half header but lacked power 8
Leon Balogun – started with Propper on bench after the head knock he suffered in first leg. Took out Talisca as he threatened to break to land booking on half hour but stayed disciplined 7
Dujon Sterling – impressed as sub in first leg and replaced Yilmaz for first start since January 5. Landed harsh booking 25 minutes in then let cross in that led to opener. Hooked on 55 5
Nico Raskin – started well, breaking beyond the lines and snapping into tackles. Kept energy up after break to win challenges and make key passes in important role in both halves of the pitch 8
**Mohamed Diomande – took up some good positions but final pass often let him down. Booked after ref bought Mert Muldur dive to count him out of next round. Well timed challenge inside box in second half 6
Connor Barron – gave Fenerbahce midfielders no time on ball. Dropped in to cover defensively and was in right place at right time. Late cross inches away from Hagi. Extra-time exit with cramp 7
Jefte – lucky when caught Talisca on line of penalty box but fellow Brazilian was booked for dive instead. Villain at second goal when went to ground and failed to stop ball in. Subbed in formation change 5
Vaclav Cerny – first leg goal hero was lively again. Sliced chance then lashed one from distance into the side netting. Didn’t see enough of ball second half but extra-time effort brilliantly saved 7
Cyriel Dessers – scored one in Istanbul and saw two chalked off for offside fewer chances last night. Handful for Skriniar but booked on stroke of half-time. Mistimed hooked volley in second half then subbed 5
SUBS: Ridvan Yilmaz (5) sent on early in second half. Late strike then booked for dissent, Hamza Igamane (3) great shot clawed away but too often picked wrong option Nedim Bajrami (5) low shot saved then smashed high and wide, Ianis Hagi (3) inches from sliding home then booked, Tom Lawrence (3) extra-time arrival.
Rangers are doing Scotland proud and lifting the coefficient, but domestic success has to come first.
They need to start winning trophies again. They must begin to start racking up results against Celtic consistently.
Back in January, Gers played their rivals off the park. It should have been more than 3-0. Ferguson will now ask them to back that win up at Parkhead.
In terms of the league, it doesn’t matter that much — Celtic will deservedly win the title and Rangers will finish second. That’s guaranteed.
But these games are never, ever meaningless, and Celts will be desperate to make a statement.
The Gers players must handle that and meet their rivals head on.
They also need to remember all eyes are on them ahead of a massive summer takeover.
Can they rise to the challenge by going across the city and upsetting their neighbours on their own patch?
Celtic will try to make their usual fast start. They will want to get after Rangers and make them feel tired.
Callum McGregor is a doubt and it wouldn’t surprise me if Jeffrey Schlupp moves into midfield if the captain doesn’t make it, with Greg Taylor in at left-back.
Callum McGregor was absent from training on Friday[/caption]
Rangers will need plenty of character to get through the early period and grow into the game.
But they should get a huge lift from the spirit and resolve they showed to get past Fenerbahce.
Jose Mourinho’s side deserved to win in 90 minutes, and a fourth home defeat in a row for the first time ever isn’t a welcome stat for this Gers squad.
But they deserve huge credit for staying really calm during that tense penalty shootout.
Winning on spot-kicks isn’t down to luck. It’s a test of nerve and mentality.
It’s not easy to walk from the halfway line in front of 50,000 people and have the bottle to score.
Nobody wants to be the villain and your emotions can take over. It takes total concentration.
Rangers’ takers handling that pressure far better than Fenerbahce’s was not down to luck.
You also need your keeper to be at the top of his game, and Butland made the difference for Gers.
Jack Butland was the Gers hero at Ibrox[/caption]
As I said last week, do not underestimate how significant his first-leg saves were, and then he backed it up in the shootout win.
It’s a terrific achievement for Rangers to get into the last eight and secure the date with Athletic Bilbao.
They will have to improve to make the semis as the La Liga side are rightly classed as one of the favourites to win a tournament in which they will host the final.
Bilbao were far better than Roma over two legs and they are a classy outfit.
But Rangers can park that until next month and focus on the here and now — which is Celtic on Sunday.
Win and the noise made by 50,000 at Ibrox on Thursday will be nothing compared to the away end at Parkhead.
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