As you might expect for a coach who has built his success upon the foundations of a rock-solid defence, Jose Mourinho is focused on keeping Rangers at arms’ length ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Fenerbahce.
And the stats only ram home just how difficult a task Cyriel Dessers, Hamza Igamane, Vaclav Cerny and co face in Istanbul.
Fenerbahce did not allow a single shot on target during the 3-0 hammering of Alanyaspor over the weekend. In fact, as was brought up during Jose Mourinho’s pre-match press conference, the Turkish giants have not allowed a shot on target in the first half of any of their last three matches.
Including a stalemate with bitter rivals and reigning Super Lig champions Galatasaray, the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid boss has presided over three clean sheets in four as well.
After a sluggish start to life in Turkey, Mourinho’s influence is belatedly taking shape.
Jose Mourinho is not underestimating the threat of Rangers ahead of the first-leg on Thursday night, though, with a place in the Europa League’s quarter finals up for grabs. Their opponents may be in pretty dismal form – three successive home defeats now – but Barry Ferguson’s outfit have claimed their fair share of continental scalps over the years.
What’s more, only Galatasaray, Tottenham Hotspur and Lazio managed more than Rangers’ 16 goals in the tournament’s opening phase.
So while Dessers and Igamane may face arguably their toughest test of the campaign at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, Fenerbahce should also be up against it as they look to continue their excellent recent defensive record.
- READ MORE: Rangers Europa League Record Since 2017
Fenerbahce star explains Jose Mourinho gameplan for Rangers clash
“We are a strong coach in this regard. Since he is an expert, he tells us very clearly what the opponent can and cannot do,” explains Caglar Soyuncu, the former Leicester City defender who joined Fenerbahce in a £7 million deal from Atletico Madrid.
“We are doing very good things. We [can make] a very good start together with the power of our fans. Tomorrow, God willing, we will get a good result.”
Soyuncu missed both of those play-off clashes with Anderlecht due to a hamstring injury. The Turkey international made his return over the weekend, however, and is expected to start against Rangers alongside the vastly-experienced Paris Saint-Germain loanee Milan Skriniar.
On the other side of the coin, Rangers should have John Souttar available again. Barry Ferguson expects Souttar to make a big ‘difference’ to a side which has gone 2-0 down in each of their last three outings.
Leon Balogun should also be on the plane to Turkey having come through a full training session on Tuesday.
Soyuncu, meanwhile, adds that Mourinho is demanding every member of his starting XI put in the hard yards off the ball against a Rangers team who tend to save their best performances for the European stage.
Mourinho sets his sights on Europa League glory as Barry Ferguson stands in his way
A man with five continental titles on his CV – including a pair of Champions Leagues – is also determined to take his tally to six.
“We are playing good defence as a team. That’s what’s important for us,” Soyuncu adds. “It is not the duty of the defenders, we all produce a good defence together and that is our priority.
“This is what our coach has always told us. We want to continue this.
“We are aiming for the cup. [Mourinho] told us that he wanted to win all the cups. Of course, as someone who has won the cups before, he said that to us.
“Saying these things also motivates us. We have the strength to do that. Our fans also have faith in us. As I said, we believe in this.”
