Rangers

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Jack Butland came close but James Tavernier had a very good night, and made two timely tackles to help them to penalties.

In added time he made a last ditch tackle that prevented an almost certain goal and in extra time he was key too as he put in a couple of terrific tackles and blocks.

He also stepped up to take the first penalty, and scored to help his side through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Tension, drama, nerves, this Europa League second leg tie wasn't for the faint hearted.

At the end of the second half, it looked like there was only going to be one winner as Fenerbache headed into extra time on top. But Rangers dug deep and they found a renewed energy for much of extra time.

The nerves during the spot kicks were something else but Rangers and Jack Butland were equal to the pressurised task.

Rangers did make life hard for themselves though, given their lead from the first leg, and how they played for the majority of the first half of this one, they allowed Fenerbahce back into this tie and the visitors' confidence only grew.

Their goal just before half-time gave them a huge boost, there's no question about that. It had the opposite effect on Rangers.

The visitors came out for the second 45 firing on all cylinders, piling on the pressure. Rangers, on the other hand, lost their confidence and their dominance. For the majority of the first half they played with energy and intent, their failure to score from decent positions though was an issue, and it almost came back to haunt them.

When Fenerbahce grabbed their second goal of the night, it was deserved, they were the better side and left Rangers' Europa League hopes hanging by a thread.

The equaliser set up a tense watch for the Rangers fans, the Turkish side were oozing confidence, Rangers were sloppy when they did see the ball.

In extra time, Rangers offered more. Vaclav Cerny forced a brilliant save, and suddenly there was some hope.

When it went to penalties you fancied Rangers, and Jack Butland more than played his part to cap a brilliant night for the Ibrox side.

A great achievement as they march on in Europe.

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Rangers "spooked" Fenerbahce in their Europa League last 16 first-leg, says Ryan Jack and believes Jose Mourinho's side "underestimated" their potential in Europe.

Barry Ferguson outsmarted the one they call 'The Special One' last week and bring a 3-1 advantage into tonight's second leg at Ibrox.

And former midfielder Jack, who now plies his trade in Istanbul with Esenler Erokspor, thinks the Turkish side thought they'd be in for an easier night against the Glasgow club.

"Last week, Barry got the tactics spot on," Jack told BBC Radio Scotland.

"It spooked Fenerbahce. For the first 20 minutes, they didn't know how to handle it and how to press. Mohamed Diomande and Vaclav Cerny got in good areas and supported Cyriel Dessers.

"I'm sure Rangers are feeling confident. They're in a great place going into the game and I'm looking forward to it."

Scotland international Jack, who was part of the Rangers side that reached the 2022 Europa League final, insists his old side "don't need to be worried" and must use the Ibrox atmosphere to spur them on.

"I'm sure Rangers are looking forward to the game too," he added. "Taking a great result back to Ibrox, I've been a part of Rangers squads that have played in big European nights and I know what Ibrox can be like.

"Playing there with a full house, a great atmosphere, the crowd will really push them.

"If you're Fenerbahce, you're looking at the tie thinking we're 3-1 behind, we probably need to open up a bit more than we did last week and maybe need to go for it a bit more.

"Rangers won't be too worried, they don't need to have all the possession and all the ball, but if Rangers start really quick and fast like they can in European nights, then it could be a great match and a great spectacle for everyone watching.

"From what I watched in the game, I think maybe Fenerbahce underestimated Rangers, they maybe thought that it was going to be a lot easier than what it was.

"If anyone's watched Rangers over recent years in Europe, then I don't see any reason why you would underestimate this Rangers team in Europe."

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Connor Barron says Rangers will approach their home tie with Fenerbahce "with confidence" as Barry Ferguson's side look to reach the last eight of the Europa League and avoid a record fourth consecutive defeat at Ibrox.

The Scottish Premiership side bring a sensational 3-1 advantage from Istanbul into the second leg tonight, but the midfielder insists no one in the squad believes the job is done.

"All the boys are buzzing," the 22-year-old said.

"It was a great result over in Turkey last week but we know it's not over. Everyone's fully focused on making sure the job's done."

Interim manager Ferguson watched on with glee as his side dominated Jose Mourinho's side and handled the heat from a ferocious Fenerbache crowd. But Barron knows they need to be even better.

"We need to be better than what we were over there, Fenerbahce are a top side," he the Scotland under-21 international said. "We respect them and we've got to make sure that we're on the ball tomorrow.

"We've got to go on and meet every game head on. We're at a big club, these are big matches, every game's a big match.

"We've got to go out and apply ourselves properly and make sure that we do all we can to get through the tie.

"We go out there with confidence and look to get through to the next round.

"That's all our team's focused on. Every single one of us are focused on getting through to the next round and that's the only thing that we need to care about."

For much of the season, Rangers' European exploits have been the only bright lights in an otherwise dull campaign.

They are looking to avoid avoid an unprecedented fourth home defeat in a row after defeats to Queen's Park, St Mirren and Motherwell.

Barron said it would be a "massive achievement" to make the last eight.

"We want to go as far as we can in the competition," he added.

"It would be a massive achievement to make the quarter-finals.

"There's been a couple of knocks and bumps on the road but it's about how you overcome them and how you look in the future now.

"We've got to take every game as it comes and make sure that we win every game we play in, including tonight."

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The proposed takeover of Rangers by 49ers Enterprises is on course to be completed by the end of May. (Sun), external

Interim boss Barry Ferguson insists he is not considering the prospect of getting the Rangers manager's job longer term. (Herald - subscription required), external

Jose Mourinho made a secret visit to Ibrox to watch a Rangers v Celtic match in 2003 in the run-up to Celtic's Uefa Cup final against Mourinho's Porto side. (Sun), external

Mourinho has "one little doubt" about his Fenerbahce team's Europa League second-leg meeting with Rangers at Ibrox on Thursday, with the Turkish outfit trailing 3-1 in pursuit of a quarter-final place. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Interim Rangers boss Barry Ferguson insists he is "not scared of the challenge" posed by Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce on a revenge mission at Ibrox on Thursday night.

Ferguson knows his side - 3-1 up from the first leg - have plenty of work still to do to see off the Turks and reach the Europa League quarter-finals.

"First and foremost, I've got huge respect for him," said Ferguson of Mourinho.

"He's won 26 trophies in a number of different countries, he's managed at the highest level. It's a real challenge for me, but listen, I'm not scared of the challenge.

"Standing on the touchline [alongside Mourinho last week] was an honour for me. He's got a real good team, he's a top-class manager.

"He would have been hurting, I know that for a fact. You'll see a different kind of Fenerbahce tomorrow night, there's no doubt about that.

"We have worked the last three days on different scenarios that I think will happen within the game. We just need to wait and see what happens come eight o'clock, but I've got every faith in my group of players."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been speaking to the media ahead of the Europa League last 16 second leg against Rangers.

Here's a taste of what he had to say.

• Despite losing 3-1 to Barry Ferguson's side in Istanbul last week, Mourinho says: "I honestly think we are better than Rangers."

• He makes that claim on the basis that he feels Rangers benefitted from his own sides mistakes, and were clinical with the chances they were presented with, having adopted an ultra-defensive approach in Istanbul.

• The manager admitted he's never had to turn around a 2-0 home first-leg deficit before in almost 200 games in Europe but feels this tie is still winnable, even if he might need penalties.

• Mourinho said he'll know in the first few minutes how the match might pan out, as he feels a home Scottish crowd will not let Rangers sit in a low block at Ibrox and defend what they have.

• Mourinho also recalled, with apparent fondness and a smile on his face, being in the crowd at Ibrox for the final derby of the season with Celtic before Martin O'Neill's side headed out for the Uefa Cup final against Mourinho's Porto. Although he could not remember the score, he recalled the amazing atmosphere, which he's urging his Fenerbahce players to enjoy tomorrow night.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Barry Ferguson has been speaking to the media before Rangers host Fenerbahce in the Europa League last 16 second leg at Ibrox.

Here are the key points from the interim Ibrox boss:

• Ferguson wants his side to "light that fire in the stands" as they target a "fantastic achievement" of reaching the quarter-finals.

• He adds: "What an opportunity it is to get to the last eight. The players are prepared for all sorts of different scenarios. We're ready."

• Ferguson feels handling pressure has been something Rangers have struggled with all season but that Ibrox is "a proper place to play football" if the team can get the stadium going.

• Despite Rangers' 3-1 lead from the first leg, Ferguson says: "I would be an idiot if I thought the tie was over and done with. It will be a tough, tough game."

• He is expecting a "different game" against a Fenerbahce side and manager Jose Mourinho who will be "hurting" after last week's defeat.

• Ferguson is urging his players to embrace the pressure of an expectant full-house at Ibrox – and to stop being "too nice" in the cut-throat environment of knockout football. He says we can expect his side to be better at the 'dark arts' or nastier side of the game.

• There will be "one or two tweaks" to the team as there are a few injury issues still to be resolved before Ferguson can finalise his selection. Defender Robin Propper has missed some training but is back now.

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Rangers will hold a moment's applause in the 40th minute of Thursday night's game with Fenerbahce in tribute to fan Christopher Potter, who died in Istanbul last week.

The Ibrox season-ticket holder was in Turkey to watch his club in the Europa League last-16 tie, but died after being hit by two cars while crossing a road in the Besiktas area of the city.

A club statement read: "The Potter family are overwhelmed by the support from the Rangers family and wider footballing world.

"Christopher Potter was truly one of a kind and we would urge all supporters in attendance at Ibrox tomorrow evening to join the minute's applause on the 40th minute mark in tribute to one of our own."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

It says much about Rangers' season that very few people are confident the Europa League tie with Fenerbahce is already settled despite a 3-1 lead from the away leg.

Under most circumstances, a team delivering the level of performance Rangers did in Istanbul would be huge favourites to progress to the quarter-final.

But such is the unpredictability of this Rangers side, that handsome advantage is no guarantee of a place in the last eight against either Roma or Athletic Bilbao.

Nonetheless, the players deserve massive credit for the way they played against Jose Mourinho's team and although Jack Butland had to make some very good saves, the margin of victory could have been greater.

Barry Ferguson and his coaching staff are also due praise for the tactical switch to three at the back and the gameplan, which the players - at times bereft of confidence this season - executed superbly.

Now, having had a full week to prepare for the second leg, they must finish the job and return Ibrox to its previous status of a stadium where opposition teams find it difficult to get a positive result.

Then, of course, Celtic await at the weekend. It's never meaningless and Rangers will want to delay Celtic's inevitable coronation by taking something from the game.

If the Rangers team that produced such an impressive performance and result in Turkey also turns up at Celtic Park, that may not be beyond them, but the immediate priority must be to secure another round in Europe, where the club's stock remains high.

RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose, who has also coached Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach, has been added to the list of managers Rangers are interested in. (The Scotsman)

One of the key investors in the prospective takeover of Rangers originally wanted to buy another Rangers - Queens Park Rangers of the Championship. (Scottish Sun)

During a telephone call to inform him he was being sacked, CEO Patrick Stewart told coach Alex Rae he was welcome to watch games at Rangers as a guest of the club - but the former midfielder said he wouldn't take up the invitation as he has two season tickets in the Broomloan Road. (GoRadio via Scottish Sun)

Rae says Philippe Clement's "attention to detail was second to none" and that he has "a huge amount of respect" for the former Rangers manager. (GoRadio via The Herald)

Graeme Souness believes Leeds United could well become Rangers' feeder club if the impending takeover goes to plan and elevates the club to another level. (Daily Record)

Cardiff fans fear that former Rangers midfielder Aaron Ramsey's career may be over after the 34-year-old was forced off with another injury in the 2-1 home defeat to Luton. (Scottish Sun)

Rangers legend Brian Laudrup says "bringing back the club's identity is vital, that's what's been hurting me" as he assessed the state of the Ibrox club. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

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• Rangers are unbeaten in their five home matches against Turkish sides in European competition (W3 D2), conceding only one goal in those five games in a 2-1 win over Galatasaray in October 2020.

• Rangers have lost just two of their past 14 home games in the Europa League (W9 D3), though did lose their last game in the knockout stages in March 2024 against Benfica 1-0.

• Fenerbahce have won only one of their past 11 knockout stage away games in major European competition (D3 L7), conceding 2+ goals in seven of those matches, including five of the last six.

• Rangers come into the second leg with a 3-1 aggregate lead – they've progressed from 24 of their previous 25 major European ties when leading by 2+ goals from the first leg, going out to Borussia Dortmund in the last 32 of the 1999-00 Uefa Cup in the other (2-2 on aggregate, lost on pens).

• No player has been involved in more goals in the Europa League this season than Rangers' Vaclav Cerny (eight – six goals, two assists), with his next goal in this season's competition equalling James Tavernier's tally of seven in 2021-22 for the most goals by a Rangers player in a campaign of major European competition.

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

Unpredictable Rangers strike again. I read Tom English suggest this is the weirdest Rangers team ever and I have to agree with that assessment.

The win against Fenerbahce was unexpected but the manner of it was night and day from domestic football.

The 3-5-2 shape worked really well too. It allowed us to have three bodies in the middle at times and gave licence to Mohamed Diomande to jump a line and press, making it 3-4-2-1 at times. It really suited the players.

Cyriel Dessers is the poster boy for this wildly erratic Rangers team. He was excellent; led the line well, worked the channels, bullied the defenders. Yet in Scotland he's thrown about like an empty tracksuit by bog-standard Premiership defenders.

Also, Vaclav Cerny has been brilliant this season and again showed his worth with his two goals. He is a player we can hopefully keep beyond the summer.

The tie is not over, of course, but it will be a good atmosphere at Ibrox on Thursday and hopefully another memorable night at Ibrox.

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Steven McLean will take charge of Sunday's Scottish Premiership meeting at Parkhead between Celtic and Rangers.

John Beaton, who officiated two of the sides' previous three meetings this season, is the VAR this weekend, assisted by Sean Carr, while Graeme Stewart and Dougie Potter are the assistant referees.

McLean last refereed an Old Firm derby in May 2023, a 3-0 win for Rangers over Celtic at Ibrox.

This weekend will be the first league meeting of the sides since 2023 where away fans will be present, with Rangers supporters allocated "4% of saleable capacity".

It will also be the first derby in the dugout for interim manager Barry Ferguson.

Celtic hold a 16-point lead and are three wins away from retaining the title.

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Rangers-linked Russell Martin has admitted he is open to a job outside England after his Southampton sacking.

The 39-year-old former Scotland defender led Saints to promotion last season in his first year in charge but was dismissed in December with the club nine points off Premier League safety.

Martin, who has also managed MK Dons and Swansea City, is reportedly a contender to replace the sacked Philippe Clement at Ibrox in the summer.

Asked about the links to Rangers on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Martin said: "I think I am realistic. I don't think I will get another Premier League chance right now.

"I think like most managers that come up from the Championship - 'Not quite good enough for the Premier League.'

"It's maybe unfair on the managers that get there at times, because you are there with a squad that has been so successful the year before but isn't quite ready for the Premier League.

"I really don't know [where is next]. I am open to working abroad, in England again - I want to work back in the Premier League now I have got a taste of it. I want to get back there and I believe I can, so we will just have to wait and see."

Everton, Marseille and Sevilla are interested in Rangers' Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane, 22. (Ekrem Konur), external

Aris Thessaloniki are set to ask Rangers to accept a lower bid to sign on-loan midfielder Jose Cifuentes on a permanent deal. (Herald - subscription required) , external

Former Rangers striker Robbie Ure, 21, will be traveling to Sweden in order to complete a move from Anderlecht to IK Sirius. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Calum Macdonald
BBC Sport Scotland

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Rangers captain James Tavernier says their Europa League last-16 tie with Fenerbahce isn't over, despite the Ibrox side holding a 3-1 lead from the first leg in Turkey.

Rangers stunned Jose Mourinho's outfit in Istanbul, with Cyriel Dessers and Vaclav Cerny (2) scoring to give the visitors the upper hand for this week's Ibrox meeting.

"We'll treat it as a 0-0 going in to Ibrox, we've got to as a team to try and keep a clean sheet," Tavernier said. "We're going to need all the fans.

"It all comes down to our performance, we've got to get the fans onside with a performance they enjoy and they're proud of.

"We know how loud Ibrox can be if we need to use it as an advantage."

The right-back also praised the effect Barry Ferguson has had on the team since he took over from Philippe Clement a few weeks ago.

Despite never managing above League One before his appointment, Ferguson's European bow in the dugout could barely have gone better.

"He's simplified it," Tavernier said of the interim manager. "He's not been scared to change the formation. The lads have really taken in the information and what it means."

Part of Ferguson's changes have seen Tavernier move into central defence, a switch he hopes could extend his career.

"I played most of youth team days at centre-back, that's a position I could see myself to prolong my career," he added.

"I feel fit as anything, I'm there do a job for the team, wherever that might be and I feel really comfortable at centre-back."

Sevilla, Marseille and Everton are all interested in a summer move for Rangers striker Hamza Igamane. (Africa Foot, external - in French)

Former Real Madrid and Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is "aware" of speculation linking him with the Rangers job. (Daily Record), external

The prospective new investors at Rangers are keen on bringing Steven Gerrard back to Ibrox for a second stint as manager. (The Boot Room), external

Rangers are interested in Peterborough forward Kwame Poku, but would have to pay a tribunal fee for the 23-year-old even though his contract expires at the end of this season. (Football Insider), external

Former Bolton Wanderers and Iceland right-back Gretar Steinsson, who is technical director with Leeds United and 49ers Enterprises, was at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on Thursday to watch Rangers beat Fenerbahce 3-1 as takeover talks continue over the Ibrox club. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.