Has any man in European football enjoyed a happier week than Rangers’ interim boss Barry Ferguson?
Well, maybe one.
In a week in which Ferguson brought Europa League quarter-final football to Ibrox by sending the great Jose Mourinho packing, the Rangers legend then became the first manager since the legendary Walter Smith to win his opening Old Firm derby at Celtic Park in 1991.
As Hamza Igamane lashed a ‘phenomenal’ late winner past Kasper Schmeichel, Ferguson also ended Rangers’ five-year wait for victory at the home of their arch rivals.
But if that capped a perfect week in the life of Barry Ferguson, Nico Raskin could have been forgiven for giving himself a nasty pinch on the arm while expecting to wake up from must have been a dream.
Not only was Nico Raskin ‘head and shoulders the best player on the pitch’ against Celtic, to quote Andy Halliday, he also scored Rangers’ opener and set up their second.
Nico Raskin generating excitement in Belgium after latest Rangers masterclass
The tireless midfielder had provided only ten goal contributions in 85 Gers appearances before the weekend begun. He grabbed two in the space of just 33 minutes at Parkhead.
Just one day after Raskin was called up to the senior Belgium side for the very first time – the former Gent, Anderlecht and Standard Liege man seeing a lifelong ambition come true – that Celtic Park masterclass was the cherry on top of the sweetest of cakes.
Belgium boss Rudi Garcia indicated that he has now qualms about throwing Raskin in at the deep end against Ukraine on Thursday. The absence of Amadou Onana means a first start for his country is a very real possibility.
But also a possibility many in the Belgian media are keen to see play out.
“I’m very positive about Nicolas Raskin,” pundit Swann Borsellino tells RTBF If we call him up today, it’s so he can play now. It’s time to see him, given his form.
“Since the beginning of October, Raskin has produced everything he can for over 30 consecutive matches. He’s in the form of his life and has the build to play for the national team,” Stephan Streker agrees.
“He plays as a pure number six with no one behind him. He succeeds in everything he does.”
Belgium boss Rudi Garcia explains Raskin call up
Arguably no player has made a bigger improvement in recent months than Raskin.
Former Rangers boss Philippe Clement put the midfielder’s ‘evolution’ down to a change in his diet. A point backed up by his father Thierry, with Raskin junior clearly benefitting on the pitch for the alternations he has been making off it.
The aforementioned Rudi Garcia, meanwhile, indicated on Friday that he would be taking a close look at Raskin in action against Celtic. Needless to say, he would have been very impressed.
“We can’t take everyone!” Garcia said. “That’s why there are players who could have been with us who are not. We must find the solution to replacing Amadou Onana, who is not part of the list because he has not played. He is not ready for the moment. He is not 100 per cent.
“So that’s why there are players who are part of the squad for the first time, like Nico Raskin.
“[Raskin] played 120 minutes [against Fenerbahce] and will play against Celtic this weekend. So we will focus on this from Monday so he is ready for Thursday.”
