It was nearly 11pm on Thursday night by the time Rangers put Fenerbahce to bed in the Europa League last-16.
Some sore heads and tired eyes on Friday morning, then, as Jack Butland’s penalty shoot-out heroics ended Jose Mourinho’s dream of a sixth European title and a first trophy in the Fenerbahce dugout.
And, as Sebastian Szymanski netted twice in normal time to ensure a minimum of 30 more minutes at Ibrox, Czech Republic boss Ivan Hasek kissed goodbye to his plans of an early night.
Hasek, who took his nation into the European Championships last summer, stayed up long enough to see Vaclav Cerny convert from the spot as Rangers set up a quarter-final clash with Athletic Bilbao.
Cerny wreaked havoc on Jose Mourinho’s backline during the first leg in Istanbul.
The Wolfsburg loanee scored twice, taking his tally in a Rangers shirt to 17 thanks partly to the extra freedom afforded to him by Barry Ferguson’s new-look 3-4-2-1 system.
Cerny might not have found the net in the return leg in Glasgow but, with eight, he managed the most attempts of any Rangers player. His lethal left boot kept Fenerbahce goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat busy throughout, while Cerny came close to one Lionel Messi-esque wondergoal before his marauding run was stopped at the death.
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Czech Republic boss full of praise for Rangers’ Vaclav Cerny
Hasek sees similarities between Cerny and one of the finest wingers of the modern game. Like Arjen Robben, the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich superstar, give Cerny the chance to cut inside onto his left at your peril.
“I watched until half past eleven [Czech time] until the penalties. He did it,” Hasek smiles after including Cerny in his squad for March’s World Cup qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Gibraltar.
“He played a fantastic match. He reminded me of Robben. He’s improving tremendously in terms of performance. He’s a very important player for us.
“In general, we have a shortage of players on the edges of the pitch, in both defence and offence.”
Fenerbahce have even been urged to sign Vaclav Cerny in the aftermath, so impressive was he over 210 minutes.
Parent club Wolfsburg reportedly want £7 million. A fee that will test Rangers’ finances, potentially even with new American investors as the San Francisco 49ers close in on their attempted takeover.
Cerny’s agent confirms interest from France and Germany too with the former Ajax starlet looking to make his mark in one of Europe’s major leagues.
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Barry Ferguson plays down Cerny fears ahead of Old Firm derby at Celtic Park
He did suffer a touch of cramp on Thursday night but Barry Ferguson believes Cerny will be good to go against Celtic at Parkhead tomorrow.
“I thought [Vaclav] cramped and he was gone and then I got the message that was the case. I’ve seen him getting rubbed on the pitch,” Ferguson said, Cerny’s determination to play through the pain barrier denying Danilo the chance to be the hero off the bench. “But, his attitude was ‘No, I’m not coming off’.
“He’s been a really dangerous player for me, Vaclav. So he was good to go and it was the right decision because he scored a penalty in the shoot-out. Listen, there was an incident that a player wasn’t happy [Danilo] and I would rather my players be like that.
“That’s a wee bit of anger. That’s what I have to see. Don’t be happy if you’re not playing.
“That’s just the way football operates. You know, it’s like it was chaos at that time. We’re going into the final 15 minutes of extra time. But listen, [Cerny] managed to get through that and obviously, slotted a penalty home.
“Oh, Vaclav will not be tired [for Celtic]. He’s been told that. It’s all in the mind.”
