In a difficult start to the calendar year for Rangers, the new-found flexibility of some of their players has been a rare positive.
James Tavernier was ‘exceptional’ at centre-half versus Kilmarnock – to quote Barry Ferguson – with the skipper impressing enough to keep his place when Motherwell came to town three days later.
The returns of John Souttar, Leon Balogun and Dujon Sterling should mean that Tavernier can revert to his preferred full-back role from now on. But, with the trio all missing in Ayrshire on a night in which Robin Propper and Clinton Nsiala produced ‘terrible’ performances at the heart of an error-strewn backline, Ferguson’s record could very easily read two games and two defeats if it wasn’t for Tavernier’s heroics.
Equally integral to that Rugby Park turnaround – Rangers were 2-0 down after 15 minutes but ended the game as 4-2 victors – was the introduction of Ridvan Yilmaz in place of Nsiala.
Yilmaz delivered a ‘perfect’ assist for Cyriel Dessers as the striker completed a quickfire brace and put the visitors ahead for the first time in an enthralling encounter.
Fenerbahce urged to target Ridvan Yilmaz in Rangers clash
While a left-back by trade, there is an argument to be made that the Turkey international’s finest performances in a Rangers shirt this season have come on the opposite flank.
Yilmaz’s swashbuckling display in the 3-0 trouncing of Celtic – he mustered more shots than anyone else in a dominant Gers victory – may well go down in Ibrox folklore.
Yet, speaking ahead of the Europa League last-16 first-leg tie away in Istanbul on Thursday night, former Fenerbahce ace Ugur Boral is not quite so confident in Yilmaz’s ability to quell a dangerous frontline when the former Besiktas stalwart makes his return to Turkey.
Boral was a left-back in his own playing days. He knows from experience just how difficult life can be for left-sider defending in his wrong side, even if Yilmaz’s adaptability and two-footedness has caught the eye since the turn of the year.
“[Fenerbahce] have a budget four times larger than [Rangers],” argues Boral, a two-time Super Lig champion with the Yellow Canaries. “When we look at our playing squad, they don’t even come close to the quality. So it’s a similar match to Anderlecht [in the play-offs].
“[If he starts at] right back, I think we will tear Ridvan apart.
“You don’t have a chance to position your feet correctly so nudging him into the middle usually becomes easier. We will come up against Rıdvan on his opposite foot.”
- READ MORE: Rangers Europa League Record Since 2017
Barry Ferguson hopeful of John Souttar involvement in Turkey
Whether Yilmaz does indeed begin proceedings on the right may depend on whether Souttar, Balogun and/or Sterling are passed fit to feature from the off.
Souttar and Balogun survived Tuesday’s training session and are both expected to be on the plane to Turkey. Rangers have certainly looked like a side lacking in physicality in their absence – the Glasgow giants have gone 2-0 down in each of their last three matches – and Ferguson expects John Souttar to make a big ‘difference’ when he returns to the team sheet.
Jose Mourinho could not resist a dig at Philippe Clement in his pre-match presser, meanwhile. Barry
Ferguson might lack the Belgian’s experience but Rangers may be better off, the former Real Madrid boss feels, under a coach less wedded to a particular ‘philosophy’.
Mourinho did rule out a number of important Fenerbahce stars, however, while taking aim at a suspension policy he feels borders on the unfair given both Fred and Bright Osayi-Samuel picked up yellow cards in a play-off tie Rangers managed to avoid thanks to their top-eight finish.
Fenerbahce are without winger Oguz Aydin too – the man who could have found himself eyeball to eyeball with Ridvan Yilmaz – while Fred’s expected successor Ismail Yuksek faces a race against time due to a thigh injury.
