A lot has been made about the players Barry Ferguson can and cannot rely on at Rangers.
After three pretty shocking home defeats on the bounce, even the former Rangers captain finds himself at a loss to describe the rot that has set in at Ibrox.
But Barry Ferguson and this under-fire Rangers team have the welcome escape of a trip to Istanbul to face Fenerbahce and Jose Mourinho in the Europa League.
Whilst Mourinho landed a dig on an obnoxious Clement pre-match, the former Chelsea boss insists Rangers are a far greater challenge with Ferguson at the helm.
And whilst there are big doubts about the mentality of some in this Rangers team, the interim Rangers manager insists there is one player he can absolutely rely on.
Barry Ferguson ‘can rely’ on Ridvan Yilmaz
Ridvan Yilmaz might not be the first player who would’ve come to mind when it comes to Barry Ferguson.
But the former Rangers captain has been glowing in his praise of the Turkish full-back, who is returning to his home country for the first time since leaving Besiktas for Ibrox in 2022.
Speaking about the Rangers defender, Ferguson insists Yilmaz is a top talent who has been unlucky with injuries at Ibrox.
What’s more, Ferguson believes Yilmaz is a player who takes responsibility no matter where he’s asked to play on the pitch.
“I’ve always liked Ridvan,” Ferguson told the press ahead of the Europa League clash with Fenerbahce.
“He’s a good player. The issue he’s had at Rangers, as you mentioned there, has been injuries.
“But now he’s back fully fit. He’s played in a position which is pretty foreign to him. He’s played right back for us. His natural position is left back. But he’s one player I can rely on. He doesn’t moan. I’ve asked him to play different positions.
“He’s become a big player. I like his attitude. His attitude has always been first class. It’s now about him being fully fit for the rest of the season. Because I think if he plays more games, I think he can get better and better.”
Ridvan Yilmaz has Rangers point to prove in Turkey
Ridvan Yilmaz has been routinely linked with a move back to Istanbul but so far no transfer exit has been agreed.
Last January, Rangers reportedly rejected a bid from Galatasaray for Ridvan whilst this campaign, Yilmaz was subject to a late bid from Besiktas.
Fenerbahce were even mentioned at Yilmaz suitors during the last transfer window.
Now in his third season at Rangers, Yilmaz has struggled with injuries over his three years in Glasgow and has never really managed to pin down a regular starting spot.
There have been flashes of quality of course; Yilmaz netted a stunner v Livingston last season whilst his performance v Spurs at Ibrox this campaign will live long in the memory.
But ultimately it has not been enough to justify the £3.4m rising to £5m deal (Sky Sports) which was struck by Ross Wilson for Ridvan Yilmaz in 2022.
Yilmaz returns to Turkey with a point to prove having left the country as one of Turkish football’s brightest young talents, a tag he has been unable to live up to so far.
It might be one of the final chances that the left-back also has to prove that he deserves to still be around Ibrox when the prospective US takeover of Rangers is completed.
