As proved to be the case in the first leg – Rangers triumphing 3-1 over Europa League last-16 opponents Fenerbahce – games such as this are often decided in the middle of the park.
Jose Mourinho knew the suspended Fred would be a big loss. To make matters worse, the former Manchester United enforcer’s understudy – Ismail Yuksek – was also rendered unavailable due to injury.
And what Sofyan Amrabat and Sebastian Szymanski bring in terms of technical quality, the Fenerbahce duo clearly lack the tenacity or the off-the-ball running power of either Fred or Yuksek.
As such, as Connor Barron put in a ‘phenomenal’ display in his first game back since January and on a night when Nico Raskin showcased his ‘world-class’ capabilities, it was Rangers who came out on top. Not only in the midfield battle, but on the scoresheet.
The addition of Barron allowed Barry Ferguson, deploying a new-look 3-4-2-1 formation, to push Mohamed Diomande into a more advanced role. A decision which paid off inside just six minutes. It was Diomande’s high pressing from the front which forced an error which resulted in Cyriel Dessers opening the scoring.
- READ MORE: Rangers Europa League Record Since 2017
Oussama Targhalline would have been ideal for Rangers’ midfield
It would be a surprise, with the Europa League quarter-finals only 90 minutes away, if Ferguson deviated away from an approach which worked wonders in Istanbul.
According to reports, meanwhile, Rangers were keeping tabs on Oussama Targhalline ahead of the January transfer window. The third Moroccan to catch the club’s eye in recent times – Rangers missed out on Couhaib Driouech to PSV but landed Hamza Igamane – Targhalline was playing in France at the time with Le Havre.
He would end the winter as a Feyenoord player. The 2023 Eredivisie champions secured a bargain fee in the region of £800,000 with Targhalline’s contract due to expire that following summer.
Now, whether Targhalline would have succeeded in shutting down Fenerbahce quite as effectively as those currently under Barry Ferguson’s watch is anyone’s guess. But, as former Feyenoord captain Karim El-Ahmadi highlights the attributes which have impressed him during the midfielder’s first few weeks at De Kuip, it is clear to see what Rangers saw in the all-action 22-year-old.
“From what I have seen of him, he is really very good,” El-Ahmadi tells De Klank Van on Feyenoord ONE. “Targhalline is a special player and he is good at stealing balls.
“He dares to dribble and also has acceleration. He may still have to learn what his best position is, because I do not think he will become a scoring midfielder with many assists. The coach of the Moroccan team is also very complimentary about him.”
Feyenoord star combines Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande’s qualities
Despite starting only one of his three Eredivisie outings thus far, Targhalline already averages 2.7 successful tackles per game in a Feyenoord shirt. That is the most of any player currently at De Kuip.
Not only does he possess ball-winning qualities reminiscent of Raskin, Targhalline also loves to pick up the ball and drive forward with elegance and purpose. The battling tenacity of Raskin, perhaps, combined with the drive of Mohamed Diomande.
“He was involved in everything,” former Ajax and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Marciano Vink said of Targhalline after Feyenoord’s 2-1 win over Almere City in February. “He won almost all the balls himself. He just has a very good eye for position.
“I think another good purchase for this Feyenoord. Especially because you are missing In-beom Hwang and Quinten Timber, this is a breath of fresh air in midfield.”
“Feyenoord’s Targhalline wanted to have almost every ball and doesn’t hide,” adds Barry Opdam, capped eight times by the Netherlands in the mid-2000s, speaking to De Telegraaf.
“He is also very agile on the ball and looks for solutions forward. He brings good pressure going forward and defensively also had a number of good interceptions, partly due to his running ability.”
The trio of Barron, Raskin and Diomande will be key if Rangers are to see off Fenerbahce again at Ibrox tonight. A trio Oussama Targhalline would have slotted into pretty nicely it seems.
