Barry Ferguson Praises Rangers’ Character After Narrowly Beating Fenerbahce to Reach Europa League Quarter-finals
Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson hailed his players for their resilience and character after they edged past Fenerbahce in a dramatic Europa League clash, securing a spot in the quarter-finals. Despite suffering a fourth consecutive defeat at Ibrox, Ferguson’s men triumphed in a penalty shootout after a 2-0 loss on the night saw the tie finish 3-3 on aggregate.
Fenerbahce mounted a thrilling comeback in the second leg, with two goals from Sebastian Szymanski cancelling out Rangers’ 3-1 first-leg advantage. The Turkish side’s dominance was evident as they created several chances to take the lead, but Rangers held on under pressure, with Jack Butland emerging as the hero in the penalty shootout. Butland saved two penalties, helping Rangers seal a 3-2 win on penalties after the tie ended 3-3 on aggregate.
Despite the disappointing result in normal time, Ferguson was full of praise for his team’s resolve. “I actually thought we played well,” Ferguson said. “The two goals we could have done better on, but the one thing I have to say, and it’s been levelled against the players, they showed character. They dug deep and showed resilience, which is what we’ve been missing.”
The penalty shootout was an emotional rollercoaster for both teams. Fenerbahce boss José Mourinho was particularly vocal in his frustration, claiming that his side had been the better team and deserved to progress. Mourinho was left fuming after several penalty appeals were turned down, including one for a possible foul on Mert Hakan Yandas. The Portuguese manager was booked for his protests, and he continued to argue that his team had been unfairly treated by the referee and VAR.
“Only one team played, only one team scored, only one team deserved to win,” Mourinho raged after the match. “We should have had at least one penalty, if not more.” He also referenced previous controversies, including his Roma side’s defeat in the 2023 Europa League final, to underscore his frustration with European officiating.
Ferguson, however, remained focused on the positives for Rangers. “The main objective was to make sure I got this club into the last eight, and that’s something we’ve done,” he stated. “They kept going, even when things weren’t going their way. And I hope that now, people will start to see that this team has something about them.”
Rangers will now face Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League quarter-finals. Despite a turbulent domestic season, the club has shown promise in Europe under Ferguson, who has now guided Rangers through four matches, winning two. The manager acknowledged that his appointment had been questioned by many but expressed satisfaction with his players’ efforts and determination.
“I’ve been to all the games this season, and when things went against them, they sometimes went into their shell,” Ferguson said. “But tonight, they showed mettle, and I’m proud of how they kept pushing forward. I’m delighted for the players, the board, and the fans.”
With the win, Rangers now look ahead to their quarter-final clash with Athletic Bilbao, hoping to build on their European success and salvage what has been a challenging domestic campaign.