Barry Ferguson knows that he faces a tall order to overcome Athletic Club as a confidence sapped Rangers return to Europa League duties.
Ferguson was ‘fuming’ after Rangers lost to Hibs, the interim Rangers manager watching Rangers lose a record-setting fifth match on the bounce at Ibrox.
It was the latest nonsense in a disastrous domestic season where Rangers waved the white flag early against Celtic, allowing the Parkhead side to romp to a sixth treble in nine years.
But the Europa League has been welcome respite for Rangers this season, who navigated a tricky draw to finish in the top eight of the revamped League Phase.
Ferguson then masterminded victory over Fenerbahce with the penalty kicks heroics perhaps the highlight of a season defined by drastic failures.
La Liga outfit Athletic Club are ‘another level’ entirely for Rangers but Barry Ferguson insists his charges have what it takes to spring yet another continental upset.
Here are the five big takeaways from Ferguson’s pre-match press conference.
- READ MORE: Rangers told there’s still a ‘big gap’ between themselves and Celtic after £40m investment
Rangers manager, staff and players hold showdown Auchenhowie meeting
Barry Ferguson revealed that Rangers held showdown talks at Auchenhowie after the 2-0 defeat to Hibs at the weekend.
“We got in on Monday morning and, let’s just say, we had a long, long chat,” Ferguson said. “I aired my views, so did my staff and so did the players, which I was happy with.”
But the interim Rangers manager was in no mood to provide baying journalists with details and insists that the Rangers team are entering the clash with Athletic Club in positive mood.
“I would rather keep it in-house, if I’m being honest with you,” Ferguson said. “But I just thought the time was right to go and spend a bit of time with them and go through a lot of things that I’m clear that I wasn’t happy with.
“And it’s good to get their point of view as well. Because we really need to get to the bottom of it because it’s been a real issue.
“But I came out of the meeting, training was bubbly on Monday. That’s what I want. I don’t want anybody mopping about and being unhappy.”
Ferguson has ‘good idea’ of what’s gone wrong at mentally weak Rangers
Ferguson insists he has a ‘good idea’ of what’s gone wrong at Rangers over the last few weeks.
The interim Rangers manager has pointed to a lack of ‘consistency’ and hopes the underlying problems have now been resolved.
“Hopefully, going forward, I’ll start to see a bit more consistency,” Ferguson said.
”Because that’s something that we’ve certainly not showed over the season. We’ve done it and played really well in some games. But in other games, it’s just been a totally different team.
“That’s something that hopefully we’ve got to the bottom of and we can move on. I hope that’s in the past now and we need to obviously look forward to the future.”
Ferguson would later reflect on Rangers’ reaction to going a goal down in matches.
Particularly domestically, the Rangers team have struggled when they’ve gone behind in and Ferguson has questioned mental fortitude of the Rangers team.
“I think it affects them when you go a goal down early on or a mistake happens within the team,” Ferguson said. “I think it affects the team.
”I keep saying to them, there are plenty of minutes left in the game and I want to see players go and take the ball in difficult situations. Look, I can accept mistakes and I can accept poor performances. But what I can’t accept is people not wanting the ball in difficult circumstances. That’s something we’ve spoken about at length.”
Barry Ferguson ready to ring Rangers changes against Athletic Club
Whilst Ferguson wasn’t giving anything away regarding his Rangers team ahead of Athletic Club, the Gers manager has promised changes.
But the Ibrox boss refused to be drawn on particular players.
When asked about choosing Cyriel Dessers or Danilo to start, Ferguson leapt to the defence of the striker.
But the Rangers manager also reiterated that he plans to change things against the Spaniards.
“In terms of the Cyriel, I would be more concerned he didn’t get into the positions,” Ferguson explained. “That’s what I’d be concerned about.
“In terms of whether I’m considering other people to play, of course I am. I told you on Saturday that there will be some changes.
“You just need to wait and see what the changes are tomorrow night. But I’ve told everybody now, there’s places up for grabs.”
Ferguson was also asked about under-fire goalkeeper Jack Butland and refused to be drawn on the Rangers stopper’s situation.
”I’m not going to say whether I’ve had a conversation with Jack or any other player,” Ferguson said. “You’ll just need to find out.
“I’m not going to sit up here and tell you this is who I’m going to play and this is the formation I’m going to play. I’d be crazy to do that.
“I’m having to think about the full team. I said that on Saturday when I came up and did my presser. I was angry, I was frustrated. It was a mixture of emotions.”
Rangers set to welcome the Europa League ‘favourites’ in Athletic Bilbao
Barry Ferguson was very complimentary of Atheltic Club heading into the Europa League clash at Ibrox.
After pouring over videos of the Spaniards this week, Ferguson branded Athletic ‘favourites’ for the tie in glowing comments.
“In my opinion, they’ve got quality all over the team,” Ferguson said.
“Certainly in the wide areas, you’ve got the two brothers, Williams. They’re going to be a real handful, but I look at midfield. Technically, very good. Very hard-working. Defensively, really solid. So we know as a group of players that we have to be at the top of our game to try and get a result.
“I would probably say they’re the favourites for the competition. Favourites for the competition. So we know it’s a tough ask for us. But these games, I keep coming back to it, as a footballer, as a coaching staff, as a manager, these are the games you want to be involved in.”
Ferguson reckons Athletic are a ‘step up’ on Fenerbahce and has suggested the Spaniards have a varied and ‘British’ style his team will have to contend with.
“A step up again,” Ferguson said. “That’s me being straight, a step up again. I watched both of them play each other. Look, Fenerbahce, in my opinion, were, as I said, one of the favourites.
“But when you go and you watch this team, they’ve got a very British style about them. They can go and play out to the back, but also they’re not scared to go long. So we need to be ready for all aspects of that.”
Rangers must inspire fans after Ibrox ‘emptied’ v Hibs
Barry Ferguson has also challenged the Rangers team to give the Ibrox support something to sing about against Athletic Club.
Rangers are currently on the worst home run in the club’s history and fans beelined for the exits when the second goal went in against Hibs. Ferguson admits such scenes were hard to take.
“The place emptied on Saturday,” Ferguson said. “And when I’m standing at a touchline, that’s tough. That’s a sore one to take when you see your own supporters and do you know what? I can’t blame them.
“So us as a group, me as a manager, we’re the only people that can do something about that.”
Ferguson insists that the Rangers support will come with the team but the onus is on the Rangers players to haul the club forward.
The interim Rangers manager has urged his players to grab the moment and give the fans something to cheer on Thursday.
“I’ve no fear in terms of them coming and supporting us at the start of the game,” Ferguson explains. “But we have to dictate to the stands.
“We need to go and give a performance. And if we do that, then the fans will get right behind us. And as I said, I’ve no issue.
“That was tough, standing in the touchlines that I mentioned a few minutes ago, watching the place empty. I can’t be having that. My players can’t be having that. That’s a sore one to take. And that’s been in the back of my mind since Saturday.”
