Barry Ferguson has taken the reins at Rangers and will immediately be tasked with restoring pride in the face of Brendan Rodgers’ treble-chasing Celtic team.
The Rangers legend might not be able to halt the Parkhead side’s march to a sixth treble in nine years but Barry Ferguson will have the chance to instil some Ibrox pride back into the ranks.
With two Old Firm derbies to come, Barry Ferguson is set to face off against Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead and Ibrox with this timid Rangers team set to earn their money.
But when the interim Rangers manager comes up against the Parkhead gaffer, Ferguson will gets the chance to prove some comments he made about Rodgers in 2018 correct.
Barry Ferguson branded Brendan Rodgers ‘lucky’ in 2018
Writing for the Daily Record, Barry Ferguson branded Brendan Rodgers ‘lucky’ for a 3-2 victory over Rangers at Celtic.
Rangers succumbed to a spirt crushing defeat to Celtic courtesy of a late Odsonne Edouard goal despite the Parkhead side being reduced to 10 men when Jozo Simunovic had been sent off.
Speaking after the result, Ferguson wasn’t buying into the narrative that Rodgers’ substitution was what made the difference at Ibrox.
“The only real difference between Celtic and Rangers on the day was a massive slice of good fortune,” wrote Ferguson in a column.
”Yes, Rodgers has taken all the plaudits because of the decisions he made in the second half. And who am I to disagree?
“I take my hat off to the guy because, as a manager, he is different class.
”But what happened next was also incredibly lucky and he’s fortunate it all went his way because had Rangers won 3-2 it would have been him and not Murty who has spent the last week under fire.”
Rangers manager insists Celtic counterpart ‘no genius’
Barry Ferguson went on to criticise Brendan Rodgers for his tactical decisions in the Old Firm clash.
Asking why the Celtic manager started with several players, the Rangers legend insists that the 3-2 defeat had more to do with luck than Rodgers being a ‘genius’.
”Why did he start with Dedryck Boyata and a back three when this was always going to be the most vulnerable part of his team?
“Why then change a midfielder for a striker with the game in the balance?
“Rodgers would have had to find answers to some seriously difficult questions but he was spared from that because the gods were smiling on him.
“That wasn’t down to Rodgers being a genius, that was down to sheer luck.
With two Old Firm games to come, Barry Ferguson will have the chance to live up to the comments when he goes toe-to-toe with Brendan Rodgers this season.
