Barry Ferguson has addressed a pre-match press conference ahead of Rangers’ second leg Europa League quarter final clash with Athletic Club.
The former Rangers captain is taking an underperforming Ibrox side to Spain knowing that the tie hangs in the balance after the two sides played out a 0-0 draw in Glasgow.
Here are five takeaways from Barry Ferguson as the interim Rangers manager addresses the media in Bilbao.
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Positive news on six Rangers players ahead of Athletic Club
Barry Ferguson was worried about ‘three or four’ Rangers players heading into the clash with Athletic Club.
But all of those injury doubts trained with Ridvan Yilmaz, Vaclav Cerny, Leon Balogun and Bailey Rice coming through a pre-match session.
John Souttar and Mohamed Diomande also come back into the side after missing the first leg through suspension, whilst Robin Propper misses the tie after being sent off at Ibrox.
“It’s good news, Leon Balogun trained, Ridvan, Cernyy trained, and Rice all trained,” said Ferguson.
“So hopefully, when they wake up tomorrow, there’s been no issues and as I said, hopefully we’re going to be strong. Also, we’ve got John Souttarand Diomande back.
“Things are looking pretty healthy, but as I said, I just need to wait until tomorrow morning, I speak to the medical staff and hopefully I get the thumbs up.”
Barry Ferguson wants Rangers to channel spirit of ‘08
Barry Ferguson captained Rangers in the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester in 2008 and the Ibrox legend has called on his team to channel the spirit of that famous side in Bilbao.
The Rangers manager also wants his team to keep the tactical discipline which was a feature of Walter Smith’s famous run to the tournament’s final against Zenit St Petersburg.
(This team has the) same work ethic to that team I played in,” Ferguson said. “We’re very workman-like.
”That’s what I want to see from my team, but also we’ll be good footballers. So when we have the ball, certainly at a stadium like this you need to be able to keep it. So we’ve spoken about that as well, because we need to defend; they’re a very attack-minded team, but when we get possession, we need to be better, and that’s something that we’ve spoken about and worked on.
“(We need) a lot of discipline. The way we are going to set up and play tomorrow night it only takes one member of the team to switch off, and if that happens, they are going to hurt us.
“It is important we are switched on every single second of the game, that is something we are big on, and my staff are, the players understand that. You have roles and responsibilities with and without the ball.
“Sometimes tomorrow night we are going to be without the ball, so we need to be set up really strong and again that is something we have worked on in the last couple of days.”
Rangers need to keep 11 players on the pitch
Barry Ferguson has watched his Rangers team go down to ten men in the first half of the last two matches.
With Robin Propper seeing red against Athletic Bilbao, Ross McCausland picked up two bookings against Aberdeen to leave their teammates up against it.
“(We need) to keep 11 on the pitch,” said Ferguson. “It happened on Sunday in the game against Aberdeen. So we need to make sure we keep 11 men on the pitch.
“If we do that, I think we’ll have a good opportunity. I’m always respectful of the opponent and the manager that we come up against.
“Over the last three days since the Aberdeen game again we’ve watched them closely. We know their qualities, we know their strengths.
“But also, we’ve got to know their weaknesses at times, so that’s something that we’ve worked on over the last couple of days and hopefully we can get through.”
Hamza Igamane already knows if he’ll start in Spain
Hamza Igamane scored against Aberdeen and there is big discussion over the Moroccan being handed a start against Athletic Club in Bilbao.
But Cyriel Dessers has been a crucial player for Rangers in European competition this season and is expected to be given the nod in Spain.
Barry Ferguson admits that his team already know who will start in the Estadio de San Mames, with the interim Rangers manager insisting Igamane has much work to do.
“I’ve always got big decisions to make,” Ferguson said. “In terms of Hamza, he did well, but I think Hamza can do a lot more. I’m very demanding in that side of his game.
“There’s no doubt Hamza’s got so much quality – technically, he’s so gifted – but he needs to add other things to his game, and that’s something that we’ve been working hard on.
“In terms of a team selection tomorrow, I already know my team, the players already know the team, and I’ve picked a team that’s hopefully going to go and progress into the semi-final.”
Rangers playing the Europa League ‘favourites’
Barry Ferguson claimed heading into the first leg at Ibrox that Athletic Club are the favourites to go on and win the Europa League.
After holding the Basque outfit to a 0-0 draw in Glasgow, Ferguson insists his position has not changed.
“My opinion has not changed,” Ferguson explained. “ I think they’re favourites for the competition.
“I think they’ve got some top-level players alongside a top-level manager. My opinion hasn’t changed on the Athletic Club.”
