Now that Fenerbahce is out of the way, Barry Ferguson and Rangers can shift their focus to Sunday’s Old Firm derby trip to Celtic Park.
Now, former Ibrox team-mate Ross McCormack thinks Barry Ferguson may have a shot at getting the gig full-time if he takes Rangers into the latter stages of the Europa League while picking up a statement victory or two over their Glasgow rivals.
As Jack Butland’s heroics helped Rangers send Fenerbahce packing in the last-16, the interim boss is one step closer to achieving one of those ambitions.
Secure the Gers their first win at Parkhead since 2010 – and their first win in front of fans for even longer – and the San Francisco 49ers could arrive in Scottish football facing a very difficult decision indeed.
- READ MORE: Rangers Europa League Record Since 2017
Barry Ferguson sent Dujon Sterling message ahead of Celtic vs Rangers
Despite a 2-0 home defeat in the second-leg, Ferguson got his tactics pretty spot-on up against the mighty Jose Mourinho.
The question is, does he stick or twist ahead of the trip to Celtic? Does Ferguson go again with the 3-4-2-1 system which caused Fenerbahce almighty problems on the counter-attack while keeping striking duo Edin Dzeko and Youssef En-Nesyri on the periphery.
Kris Boyd fears that Rangers could be walking into a trap if they go for a three-at-the-back, wing-back set-up again this weekend. While Mourinho sent Fenerbahce out with two classic number nines, Celtic’s attack is far more mobile.
Boyd can envisage Jota and Nicholas Kuhn – potentially Daizen Maeda if Adam Idah starts up top – exploiting the spaces in behind Rangers’ wing-backs.
There is also an argument for Dujon Sterling to make his first Premiership start since January 5th.
Sterling played just shy of an hour against Fenerbahce. James McFadden and Barry Ferguson both agree that Sterling – certainly the most diligent defender of Rangers’ full-back options – could come in very handy against Celtic’s formidable frontline, either at wing-back or on the right-hand side of a central trip.
“I can understand [starting Sterling against Celtic],” former Scotland international James McFadden muses. “I know Tavernier has done well there, at right centre-back.
“But when you’re playing as a back three, when you’re more attacking, the wing-back goes high and wide. And the right centre-back, you need to [shift over to play] as a right-back and, at times, go man for man.
“I think you would probably feel a bit better if Sterling was doing that than Tavernier. Plus, you get more from Tavernier going forward.”
“Oh definitely,” agrees Ferguson, a one-time Rangers forward and Barry’s older brother. “All day; Sterling, [Leon] Balogun [and John] Souttar.”
Gordan Dalziel says James Tavernier must keep central role
Souttar was ‘unbelievable’ alongside Balogun and Tavernier on a tense Thursday night at Ibrox, taking his tally of clearances over the two legs against Fenerbahce to 31.
Balogun clearly hasn’t lost too many yards of pace either, at the age of 36. If fit enough to start again after 120 gruelling minutes, he has proven himself far more reliable than the maligned Robin Propper.
Gordon Dalziel is wary of changing a victorious formula, however. In contrast to McFadden and Ferguson, the 1982 League Cup winner feels that Ferguson should continue deploying Tavernier in a role he has taken to like a duck to water.
“No, no, no, no, no. Tavernier has probably been at his best playing at that right centre-back, for me,” Dalziel responds, adding another negative for good measure. “He’s got Balogun and Souttar, he’s got plenty of cover.
“I’m sorry, no I disagree. I don’t mind Sterling playing there [at wing-back]. Even Ridvan Yilmaz. I think Tavernier’s knowledge of the game is better [than Sterling’s in a central role].”
Dalziel, Ferguson and McFadden may disagree on where Dujon Sterling should start against Celtic. They appear more settled, however, on the idea that he should start in the first place though.
