Barry Ferguson has led Rangers to Old Firm victory over Celtic in a pulsating Scottish Premiership encounter at Parkhead.
Ferguson became the first Rangers manager since Walter Smith to win his first Old Firm at Celtic Park, a record stretching back to 1991.
Neil Lennon claims Rangers were ‘outstanding’ in the first 45 at Parkhead, racing into a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande.
But after Celtic roared back into the game in the second period, it was Hamza Igamane who’d prove the hero with a late winner in a famous 3-2 victory.
Barry Ferguson has been discussing the Moroccan striker come full time and surprisingly, has had plenty of criticism for the hitman.
Whilst Fergie has hailed Igamane’s late winner, the Gers boss has challenged the striker to improve in other areas of his game.
Barry Ferguson criticises Hamza Igamane
Hamza Igamane is the toast of Glasgow’s southside after thumping Rangers to three points against Celtic with a rasping, late Old Firm winner.
The stunning effort from the 22-year-old will steal headlines, with Igamane showing expert composure to take the ball under control and hammer it high into the top corner.
It’s a goal fit to win any game but Barry Ferguson insists that if the talented Morocco striker wants to reach his potential, he needs to start rolling his sleeves up.
Whilst the Rangers legend sees big things in the Ibrox hitman’s future, Ferguson insists that progress will only come with hard work.
It comes after Igamane was called-up for Morocco for the first time ahead of the upcoming international break.
”Hamza is a player with huge potential,” Ferguson told Sky Sports come full-time.
”But he has to work so much in the other side of the game. He’s disappointed that he’s not been playing but he needs to start doing that side of it because I think he’s got a massive future in the game.
“He showed his quality obviously with the goal at the end. It was an unbelievable strike.“
Not that Ferguson doesn’t relish a challenge.
The legendary former Rangers captain has pledged to work with the striker over the course of his Ibrox internship to help Hamza reach football’s elite level.
Even if the Rangers manager is struggling to break through the language barrier.
”He’s one – it’s a bit difficult with the language barrier – but he’s one that we’re going to work with and we’re going to make better because I think he’s has to improve in some aspects of his game,” said Ferguson.
”If he does that then he’s got a huge future in the game.”
Rangers ‘deserved’ first Old Firm win at Celtic Park since 2020
Barry Ferguson has also heaped praise on his Rangers team for their performance in the first half at Celtic Park.
Rangers played with an aggression and tenacity indicative of Ferguson as a player and Celtic struggled to cope with the Ibrox side’s press.
It was the first 45 that laid the foundation for the victory, with Rangers winning at Celtic Park for the first time since Connor Goldson’s Parkhead double in 2020.
It’s little wonder James Tavernier was forced to apologise for jubilant celebrations come full-time.
Speaking about the performance at full-time, Ferguson reckons Rangers are starting to learn how to play and win matches in the Ibrox spotlight.
“I thought the first half we were immense,” said Ferguson. “Everything I asked of them.
”I knew at half-time that Celtic would come out and have a go at us. Disappointed again with the two goals. Again it’s something that we need to work on and get better at.
”But what’s the big word that everybody’s threw against this team? Character, they start feeling sorry for themselves.
“There was a prime example that they don’t feel sorry for themselves. They’re starting to listen.
”They’ve been brilliant to work with over the last three weeks. They’re starting to learn. Even the dirty side of the game we need to be better.
”But you’re seeing signs of it. We’re getting there.”
Ferguson also reckons that Rangers were deserved winners on the day despite the fact Celtic clawed back a 2-0 defeat.
“To come to Celtic Park, they’re a top team and they’ve got a top manager but we’ve came here and we’ve dominated the first half,” said Ferguson.
”Second half sometimes you’ve got to surrender that a wee bit. Our shape can be a wee bit better.
”But I think overall if you look at it, we deserved it.”
