Rangers

Jose Mourinho remains defiant ahead of Fenerbahce’s Europa League showdown at Ibrox, insisting his side are superior to Rangers despite trailing 2-0 from the first leg. The Portuguese manager, never one to lack confidence, believes Barry Ferguson’s men capitalised on his team’s errors in Istanbul rather than outplaying them. “They weren’t better than us,” Mourinho asserted. “They won because we made mistakes. They were disciplined, they fought, and they took their chances – but that doesn’t mean they are the better team.” Rangers executed a clinical counter-attacking gameplan, sitting deep and striking when opportunities arose, a strategy Mourinho acknowledged but dismissed as evidence of superiority. Despite history being against him – he has never overturned a two-goal home deficit in nearly 200 European matches – Mourinho is adamant Fenerbahce still have a real shot at progressing. “If I didn’t believe we could do it, I wouldn’t even be thinking about this game,” he said. “I’d be focusing on Sunday’s league match instead. But we have a chance – and as long as we do, we go for it.” With Fenerbahce chasing Galatasaray at the top of the Turkish Super Lig, Mourinho could have prioritised domestic matters. Instead, he is throwing everything at Ibrox. Fond Memories of Glasgow – and a Secret Old Firm Experience Mourinho has been to Ibrox before, most notably with Chelsea for a friendly in 2007. But his fondest memory of the famous stadium comes from a much more low-key visit. “If you ask me the result of that Chelsea game, I couldn’t tell you,” he admitted. “It was just a friendly. But my best Ibrox memory? You don’t know about it. I was hidden in the crowd, watching Rangers vs Celtic. “It was a couple of weeks before my Porto side faced Celtic in the 2003 UEFA Cup final. Nobody knew me at the time, so I could just walk out with the fans – good times.” Fenerbahce were unbeaten in 18 matches across all competitions before their first-leg defeat to Rangers, but Mourinho is hoping his team can feed off the atmosphere at Ibrox rather than be intimidated by it. “They have to embrace it,” he said. “Even if the crowd is against us, this is the best place to play football. The UK is special. Let’s enjoy it – and let’s go for it.”

Rangers delivered a commanding performance in Istanbul, securing a crucial victory against Fenerbahce to strengthen their European campaign. Cyriel Dessers capitalised on a defensive mistake early in the match, squeezing his shot over the line before Caglar Soyuncu could intervene. Fenerbahce responded with attacking intent, as Youssef En-Nesyri and Edin Dzeko both came close before Alexander Djiku restored parity with a stunning volley. Despite losing their early momentum, Barry Ferguson’s side regained the lead with a well-worked goal, as Vaclav Cerny finished clinically following a swift exchange with Dessers. Dessers twice found the net again in the second half, demonstrating Rangers’ counter-attacking threat, but VAR ruled him offside on both occasions. However, Cerny ensured the visitors extended their advantage, rounding off a superb counter-attack with a composed finish to seal an impressive victory and continue Rangers’ strong European form. Tactical Shift Pays Off for Ferguson Interim boss Barry Ferguson surprised many by altering Rangers’ formation, deploying Ridvan Yilmaz as a right wing-back and James Tavernier in a back three. The change proved effective as Rangers pressed high from the outset. Their early reward came when Mohamed Diomande capitalised on Sebastian Szymanski’s loose pass, allowing Dessers to round goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat and finish coolly. The visitors’ bright start was almost undone when Robin Propper collided with goalkeeper Jack Butland on the edge of the box, forcing John Souttar to make a crucial intervention. Propper came off worse and had to be substituted. Shortly after, Nico Raskin’s misplaced header was ruthlessly punished, with Djiku pouncing to equalise for the hosts. Rangers’ Counter-Attacking Brilliance With Fenerbahce pushing forward, Rangers looked to exploit space on the break. One such counter-attack saw Cerny play a quick one-two with Dessers before slotting the ball beyond Egribayat. More defensive lapses from the hosts allowed Dessers to find the net again, only for VAR to rule him marginally offside. He had another effort disallowed in similar fashion, but Rangers remained undeterred. Their persistence paid off when Raskin played a perfectly weighted pass from deep, releasing Cerny to race clear and finish emphatically. European Pedigree Shines Through Rangers’ tactical tweak came at a crucial time, with the team struggling defensively in recent weeks. The adjustments helped shore up the backline while maintaining a sharp counter-attacking threat, as showcased by Cerny’s double. While the victory may have seemed an upset on paper, Rangers’ European pedigree suggests otherwise. Their wins in Malmo and Nice earlier in the competition, along with solid home triumphs against FCSB and Union Saint-Gilloise, highlight their ability to compete at this level. With no domestic fixtures this weekend, Ferguson’s men have ample time to prepare for the second leg, where a quarter-final clash against Roma or Athletic Bilbao awaits the winners. Fenerbahce Still in the Fight Despite Rangers’ strong showing, Fenerbahce remain a dangerous proposition. Jose Mourinho, ever the tactician, will be eager to turn the tie around in Glasgow next week. Dzeko posed a constant threat, while substitute Allan Saint-Maximin provided a dangerous cross that En-Nesyri headed narrowly wide. The Moroccan forward later forced a fine save from Butland, while Anderson Talisca also tested the Rangers keeper. With Fred available after suspension, Mourinho will have more options as his side look to overturn the deficit. Post-Match Reactions Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho: “We were bad all over the pitch. It wouldn’t be fair to say we were only poor defensively because we struggled in every department. Maybe you laugh, but for me, this was a good result. Based on how we played, the scoreline could have been worse. If anyone asks if it’s over, my answer is no.” Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson: “It was a really strong performance. The players gave me everything I asked for and executed everything we worked on in training. It’s a fantastic result, but I’m not getting carried away. This is only half-time in the tie.” With the second leg at Ibrox set to be a blockbuster encounter, Rangers will look to finish the job and book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.