Fenerbahce vs Rangers. Jose Mourinho vs Barry Ferguson. It’s fair to say, for the two men in either dugout ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash, their CVs could hardly be more contrasting.
Jose Mourinho is looking for a sixth continental title, having secured European silverware on the benches of FC Porto, Inter Milan, Manchester United and AS Roma.
Barry Ferguson, meanwhile, has never before coached a team in European football. In fact, before Ferguson returned to Rangers on an interim basis last week, his CV read Clyde, Kelty Hearts and Alloa Athletic rather than Real Madrid, Chelsea and Man United.
Yet, as Rangers prepare to travel to Istanbul ahead of Thursday’s first-leg in Turkey, Mourinho is careful not to underestimate the managerial novice looking to put smiles on faces again on the blue half of Glasgow after the Philippe Clement era came crashing down.
- READ MORE: Rangers Europa League Record Since 2017
Jose Mourinho aims dig at former Rangers manager Philippe Clement
“I know Barry Ferguson as a player. I don’t know about his managerial career,” Mourinho explains during his Wednesday press conference. “I respect the emotional bond between him and the club. That’s important to me.”
While Clement was a man obsessed with systems and the minutiae of tactical details, Barry Ferguson is bringing things back to basics. The former Rangers captain has spoken about ‘standards’ and desire, aggression and discipline.
For Mourinho, if Ferguson can get a tune out of a Gers side who lost at home to Motherwell last time out, that could make this wounded animal of a team a very dangerous opponent.
“You can talk about negative things as a manager but it will be different and difficult compared to the previous manager,” the two-time Champions League winner adds while aiming a little dig into Clement’s ribs.
“Their previous manager was focused on philosophy. In football, philosophy alone is not enough. You have to win on the pitch. It will be a difficult game for us but it will be difficult for Rangers too.”
Whether this is purely mind games – Mourinho is no stranger to those – or whether he really does fear a response from a Rangers side smarting from three successive home losses, only the man himself can answer.
Jose Mourinho has only managed at Ibrox once before, meanwhile. A surprising stat, really, considering the remarkable longevity of a coaching career spanning well over two decades.
That came in a pre-season friendly against Chelsea back in 2007. Goals from Nacho Novo and Filip Sebo secured a win in front of a packed-out Ibrox.
Mourinho retains a special place in the hearts of many Rangers fans, meanwhile. It was his Porto outfit which denied Celtic UEFA Cup glory all the way back in 2003.
Fenerbahce boss opens up on relationship with Rangers fans
“I haven’t met anyone from Scotland in Turkey. Maybe [I will] today or tomorrow,” Mourinho smiles. “When I’m on holiday, [Rangers supporters] always come and congratulate me. That final has a special place for me. It was my first final in Europe.
“I have a lot of respect for both Scottish clubs. I’m happy we’re going there next week.”
Shota Arveladze spent time at Rangers as well as Trabzonspor in his playing career. And a former teammate of Barry Ferguson’s at Ibrox feels that Rangers are the obvious underdogs ahead of that Fenerbahce clash.
Ferguson should have John Souttar back available, thouugh, in a timely boost to his error-prone backline.
“When Fenerbahce go into Europe, they have so much freedom, psychologically, to play football,” Arveladze tells the Daily Record. “Fenerbahce play much more freely, much more football and score more goals in Europe.
“They did well to beat Anderlecht quite easily in the last round, scoring five goals over two legs. Fenerbahce are on a really good run, they’ve kept their form well, while Rangers are not in the best of times.
“[But Ferguson] has this great chance. I hope he will show his skills. It’s going to be a huge challenge for him against Mourinho. You know that when you stand out on that touchline and it’s him and his decades of quality against you.”
