Barry Ferguson knew that if Rangers wanted to get a positive result against Fenerbahce, then they’d need to spring a Europa League surprise.
The interim Rangers manager has been studying closely both Fenerbahce and the tactics employed by Jose Mourinho ahead of the Europa League tie.
When the match kicked off, Barry Ferguson had sprung a tactical surprise in starting with three centre-backs in a 5-3-2/3-5-2 system which went on to reap huge rewards.
The tactical switch had a huge bearing on the match, with Rangers going on to dump Fenerbahce 3-1 with the second leg at Ibrox all set up to be a corker.
Barry Ferguson on Rangers tactical switch v Fenerbahce
Speaking about the tactical shift come full-time, Barry Ferguson insists that it was a gamble he was always willing to take and has hailed the Rangers team for going out and executing the game-plan.
“It was a gamble but it was a gamble I was prepared to take,” Ferguson told the press come full-time.
“I’ve watched, as I said yesterday, I’ve watched Fenerbahce nine or ten times and I just thought I had to change the shape.
“I thought about it on Sunday, debated with my coaching staff. They weren’t too sure but I had my way I thought that we could get a result and then we obviously started to get to work on that on a Tuesday.
“I’ve got to give my players credit because it’s no easy change in the system and it was a big change for them. There was a lot of change within the way that I wanted to play. They’ve never played that before.
“I give my players huge credit but as I said, I don’t want to get carried away with it because it’s only half-time in a tie and we need to go and make sure we give that sort of level of performance next Thursday night.”
Rangers v Fenerbahce ain’t over yet
Barry Ferguson has taken the plaudits for outfoxing Jose Mourinho but the Rangers manager knows that this Europa League tie is anything but over.
Jose Mourinho has also sounded the battle drum ahead of next week’s trip to Ibrox and Ferguson is in full agreement with the Special One that a place in the quarter final is still up for grabs for both teams.
With everything still to play for in Glasgow next week, Ferguson insists Fenerbahce still have the quality to go on and win the competition and has warned his Rangers team to stay focused.
“There’s no way that the tie is over,” Ferguson said. “It was a great result for us tonight but it’s only been a half time.
“I have huge respect for Jose as a manager, as I mentioned earlier on he’s one of the best that’s ever been and when you look at his team he has got players that are really dangerous and can really affect games so there’s no way that we think we’re in the last eight.
“I would be an absolute idiot if I thought that because as I said I’ve got respect.
“I respect Fenerbahce and we need to go and take a couple of days, rest and recover and make sure we focus on Fenerbahce next Thursday because I’m telling you one thing it’s going to be a real difficult time for us.”
