Rangers

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly described his role in the battling 0-0 Europa League quarter-final, first-leg draw with Athletic Bilbao as "right up there" among highs in his career after the 10-man Ibrox side held out to keep the tie alive.

Already having suffered from centre-half Robin Propper's 13th-minutes red card, it looked like Rangers were destined to head to next Thursday's second leg in Spain a goal behind when the visitors were awarded a controversial late penalty.

But Kelly, recalled in favour of out-of-form Jack Butland, diverted substitute Alex Berenguer's effort over the bar to seal a stoic display and improbable result in the circumstances.

"In terms of the actual general feeling, right up there," Kelly said. "I've been here my whole life, came in as an eight year old and playing a European quarter-final, save a penalty and draw 0-0, down to 10 men. It's an incredible feeling.

"I might not seem too happy, but it's only because it's half time. I can't be jumping about and something happens, we get beat next week. It's not what we want. We want to grind again. Dig in again. The way Rangers do.

"I wasn't asked to do too much to be honest. I wasn't asked to do loads and, whatever I did do, I did alright. I wanted to go under the radar. Obviously, the penalty save takes that away, but that's life as a goalie."

Kelly justified head coach Barry Ferguson's call to replace Butland, but it was notable at full-time that the Englishman went straight to congratulate Kelly.

"Me and Jack have got a great relationship," Kelly added. "It's not an easy position to get into when you've got the goalie who was the best in the league by an absolute mile last year. Big Jack is an incredible goalie, he's got absolutely everything in this game.

"We all go through difficult moments. I stepped in tonight, but listen, he's an amazing goalie. I've learned so much from him."

Rangers fans, we want to know what you made of that dramatic Europa League quarter-final first leg.

Were you at Ibrox on Thursday night or following the action from home? Either way we want to know your views on the performance.

Have your say here

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Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson: "I thought we defended really well and coped with their threat.

"It has been a problem conceding goals, that's one of the areas we've tried to work really hard at. What I saw tonight was a team that took the instructions on.

"The chat we had on Monday really sunk in and they took the information with them. I think anybody watching the game tonight saw a team that would run through brick walls for each other.

"I can see the reason why the referee gave the red card. It is what it is, the referee makes the decision and we just have to get on with it. We needed to go back to something different but I'm proud of the guys, how they took that information on. It's not the way we wanted to play this game but after letting the boys know a few home truths after the weekend, I've got to give them credit for tonight.

"When I'm not happy with a performance I'm going to make changes, some of them are tough at times. I was happy with everybody, the guys who came on as well. they're disappointed to be on the bench but I want to see that because it means they care.

"In terms of the changes, they came in and did their job but the guys that came on did their job for the team as well.

"We're still in the tie and it's there for us to go and try to get through into the semi-finals. We'll go and give it our best shot and set up in a way that will hopefully get us into a semi-final."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Where to start? It must be with Liam Kelly.

Barry Ferguson's decision to drop Jack Butland for what, to date, was Rangers' biggest game of the season was a huge statement.

He was thrust into this massive occasion and fully justified it. Surely he has staked his claim to continue as number one with that big moment and a more than creditable performance overall?

Rangers have shipped goals for fun of late, but to emerge from this first leg unscathed, in these circumstances, was nothing short of incredible.

Robin Propper's red card ripped up their best laid plans. That they stood firm in a manner that belied belief would have been everything their interim boss would have demanded.

It is a 0-0 that had nothing like 0-0 about it. What drama. It must feel like a win.

It remains a tough task to travel and progress to the last four of this competition against opposition of this quality.

However, to their credit, in the most dramatic of fashions, they held on to retain a fighting chance.

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Thrown into a Europa League quarter-final with just seven appearances under his belt this season, Liam Kelly pulled out some massive moments to keep the first leg goalless, and let's not forget that huge penalty save.

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The Times' Michael Grant thinks Athletic Bilbao's style of play could suit Rangers as the sides prepare to meet in the Europa League quarter-finals.

The first leg at Ibrox is on Thursday before the return leg in Spain next week and Grant says Rangers have nothing to fear against Athletic, who sit fourth in the Spanish top flight.

They beat Roma across two legs in the previous round, while Rangers got the better of Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce.

"You look at it and you would think that Athletic Bilbao would be a step too far, but how many times have we thought that?" Grant said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"They've done it against teams that you thought that this is going to be too strong for them.

"Athletic Bilbao are interesting and they're strong. don't think they're brilliant though, it has to be said. I watched their game against Villarreal at the weekend. It was fairly flat to be honest with you.

"Their last three games have been 1-0, 0-0, 1-0-0. So I'm not sure there's going to be awful lot of goals at Ibrox. And that's probably going to suit Rangers because not only are they a good Europa League team, they've been a good away Europa League team.

"And they might think, well, if we are still in this game after the first leg, then we've got a fighting chance in Bilbao next week."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Leon Balogun insists Rangers have to respond following internal conversations between staff and players following the weekend defeat by Hibernian, a fifth straight loss at Ibrox.

The Ibrox side host Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final, hoping to rediscover their European form after some punishing results domestically.

"We lose five on the spin at Ibrox," Balogun said. "At this club it's not something you should be able to accept.

"It's on us to turn things around and the only way to do that is to follow words with action."

Balogun said he was unable to pinpoint why Rangers have struggled so badly at home recently, adding, "I think that overall we just lack consistency this season.

"I've been in some tough games, but overall it's a joy to be here to play in front of 50,000 every single game. So, I would like to think that this is not a problem, it's more a problem of consistency."

Despite domestic form, the defender insisted the club has a "massive" opportunity against the Spaniards.

"It's a very special game. It's a quarter-final of the Europa League, so that in itself makes it massive already. They are special and a lot of things can happen in these games.

"There's a massive opportunity for the players, for the club."

It's right that there are question marks hanging over Jack Butland, but the Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao is too big a game to bench the Rangers goalkeeper.

The level a Rangers goalie needs to be at is really high. You need to be able to pull off a world-class save after 60 minutes of doing nothing.

That's not been the case recently for Butland.

It's had a big impact on Barry Ferguson's tenure, with mistakes against Motherwell and Hibernian handing both those sides opening goals in their recent wins at Ibrox.

Even still, Thursday's first leg at Ibrox feels too big a match to make a change. And what if there is a change and it doesn't go well?

Liam Kelly an experienced keeper and he could come in and do a good job. But if he doesn't, it leaves you in a really tough position.

That's also why I can't see there being a change on Thursday, but I can understand why the question is being asked.

Former Rangers striker Steven Naismith was speaking to BBC Sport Scotland's Nick McPheat

Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny has avoided a suspension after being pictured squirting a water bottle at Celtic fans while celebrating his side's winner in last month's Old Firm derby. (Scottish Sun), external

Czech international Vaclav Cerny has been given a warning by the Scottish FA. (Herald - subscription required), external

"If you leave him out, you could finish him." Former Rangers hero Ally McCoist is torn over whether or not goalkeeper Jack Butland should be dropped after a series of blunders but thinks centre-half and centre-forward are bigger problem areas that need addressed over the summer. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

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Rangers are "one of the toughest teams" in the Europa League and they "could be favourites" for the competition, says Athletic Bilbao head coach Ernesto Valverde.

La Liga's fourth-placed side face the Glasgow club in Govan on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

Despite Rangers losing their last five games at home, former Barcelona boss Valverde is expecting a "big challenge".

Responding to a question about interim Ibrox manager Barry Ferguson saying Athletic are "probably favourites" to win the competition, Valverde said: "Rangers are one of the toughest teams in the competition for me.

"[There are] arguments they could be favourites. It's a knockout competition. I don't like it when people talk about favourites.

"We're a good team, Rangers are a good team. We have a lot of respect for them. You never have an easy game in Europe. I don't think we can say we're favourites.

"The pitch is where everything is decided. Rangers can hit us on the counter, they have some good players. At this level you can get punished at any moment.

"They can compete with any team and it's only three years since they reached the final. It's a big challenge playing in a stadium like [Ibrox] in a quarter-final."

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Interim manager Barry Ferguson will not shy away from "difficult decisions" when it comes to making changes to his Rangers team.

The Ibrox side go into Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg having set an unwanted record of five straight home defeats.

There have been calls from some supporters to bench striker Cyriel Dessers and goalkeeper Jack Butland following Saturday's loss against Hibernian.

Dessers has been criticised by fans for passing up too many opportunities, while Butland has made several errors leading to goals in recent weeks.

Ferguson would not be drawn on specific players but said he "would be more concerned if [Dessers] wasn't getting into the positions" to score.

"Of course I am [considering other people to play]," Ferguson added. "There will be some changes. You just need to wait and see what they changes are.

"I've told everybody there are places up for grabs. When you go into my team, you need to earn your right to play.

"I'll probably have to make difficult decisions, I've had to make difficult decisions since I've come in, but it's one thing I'm not afraid to do to benefit the team."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson has been speaking to the media before their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao.

Here are the key points:

• Ferguson revealed that the players and staff had a "long, long chat" in the days following the 2-0 defeat to Hibernian, resulting in a record fifth straight defeat at Ibrox.

• "I aired my views, so did my staff and so did the players, which I was happy with," he said.

• The former Rangers captain insisted that five straight defeats at home is "just not good enough", adding that the players are now "totally clear on what way we're going to approach the rest of the season, not just tomorrow night".

• When asked how they might approach the remainder of the campaign, Ferguson responded by saying: "You'll see when the team comes out and you'll see when the game starts."

• When pressed on why performances have been so mixed with European highs followed by domestic lows, he explained he has a "good idea" and he hopes to see "more consistency from now on".

• "We've played really well in some games, in other games it's just been a totally different team. That's something we've hopefully got to the bottom of," he continued.

• Ferguson refused to confirm whether he had any individual conversation with goalkeeper Jack Butland, who has made a number of costly mistakes in recent games.

• He added that Athletic Bilbao have "quality all over the team" and he views them as "probably favourites for the competition" and "a step up again" from Fenerbahce, who Rangers defeated in the previous round.

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• Rangers and Athletic Bilbao faced in the 1968-69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in the quarter-final - the Gers won 4-1 in the first leg at home, before Athletic won 2-0 in the second leg, with the Scottish side going through 4-3 on aggregate.

• Athletic Bilbao have lost both of their major European visits to Scotland, losing 1-0 to Dunfermline Athletic in 1965 and 4-1 to Rangers in 1969, both in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

• This will be Rangers' 13th major European quarter-final and first since the 2021-22 Europa League against Sporting Braga. They haven't won their first leg in a quarter-final in any of their last five (D2 L3) but last time they did win was against Athletic Bilbao at Ibrox in March 1969 in the Fairs Cup.

• Athletic Bilbao have reached the quarter-final stage of a major European competition for the first time since 2015-16, when they were knocked out by Sevilla in the Europa League. The last time they progressed to the semi-final stage was in 2011-12 under Marcelo Bielsa, beating Schalke 4-2 in the first leg that season.

• Rangers have lost three of their last six home matches in the Europa League (W2 D1), only one fewer than they lost in their first 25 home games in the competition (W14 D7 L4).

• Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams has made 75 dribbles in the Europa League this season, more than any other player. It's the most by a player in a Europa League campaign since Bouna Sarr for Marseille in 2017-18 (92).

• Vaclav Cerny has scored six Europa League goals this season, with only James Tavernier in 2021-22 (seven) ever scoring more in a major European season for Rangers. He's had the second most shots of any player in this season's competition (36).

• Bilbao winger Williams has had a hand in six goals in 10 Europa League games this season (four goals, two assists). However, all of these goal involvements have come at home, failing to score or assist in any of his five away appearances.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Wouldn't it be just like Rangers to now go and get a good result against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday after an abject showing and result against Hibernian at the weekend?

In saying that, they will probably have to produce their best performance of the season to do so and the likelihood of being able to do that after such a dismal display on Saturday seems massively unlikely.

I know I'm not the only one to be baffled as to how a team that recently won away to Fenerbahce and Celtic can allow standards to dip so drastically, albeit against an in-form and impressive Hibs side.

Barry Ferguson and his coaching staff will have been scratching their heads, asking themselves the same question this week and trying to come up with a plan to reinvigorate the team for the challenge of taking on the Basques.

Another puzzle is the sudden appearance of expensive errors in the game of the previously ultra-reliable Jack Butland.

I posed the question to my co-commentator Ian McCall on Saturday, after Butland had allowed Dylan Levitt's strike to squirm under his body, whether there was an argument that he should be replaced by Liam Kelly.

For what it's worth, I suspect that won't happen because, on balance, he still produces top saves and will probably be required to do so on Thursday night, but his confidence does appear to have taken a knock and Rangers could really do with him ironing out the mistakes sooner rather than later.

The same could be said for much of the team, though, and regardless of what happens in this European tie and who is ultimately appointed as the next permanent manager at Ibrox, they have a massive job on their hands to restore the club's fortunes.

Leeds United dropping out of the automatic promotion places in the Championship could affect Andrew Cavenagh and a 49ers enterprises group headed up by Paraag Marathe's takeover of 51% of Rangers' shares. (Scottish Sun)

Former Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield is convinced the Ibrox crowd will park their domestic ire and make the stadium a cauldron for Athletic Bilbao's visit on Thursday night. (Daily Record)

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

Saturday was a fine example of why we are so tired. The loss to Hibs was one thing, but the manner of it was embarrassing.

Barry Ferguson is right. This is no Rangers team. Yes, it has some good individuals but for a team that has 80 per cent of the ball, it just won't do.

He has some massive decisions on his hands for Thursday night and one should involve Cyriel Dessers being on the bench.

We have a promising striker in Hamza Igamane who needs games and we are moving him around to facilitate a guy who has never been good enough since day one.

Jack Butland also needs to get his head in the game. Match after match he's throwing one in.

Ferguson hinted at going defensive from now until the end of the season and we'll need a Fenerbahce away performance if we are to be alive in the second leg against Athletic Bilbao next Thursday.

Soon-to-be Rangers owners The San Francisco 49ers could make axing captain James Tavernier their first major decision since taking over, with the 33-year-old contracted until summer 2026 but with clubs in Italy and the United States keeping tabs on the experienced right-back. (TeamTalk), external

Steven Gerrard, who has been linked with a return to Rangers as manager this summer, says he is not ready for a return to the dugout after the 44-year-old Englishman's chastening experience in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq. (The Peter Crouch Podcast), external

Spain number one Unai Simon has confirmed he will not be playing in the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Rangers at Ibrox on Thursday as Athletic Bilbao's rotation policy means Julen Agirrezabala will be in goal. (Glasgow Times), external

Rumours that the Rangers takeover has stalled or is about to collapse are well wide of the mark and 49ers Enterprises are expected to finalise the deal to take control of the Ibrox club this month. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Martin Boyle's goal in Hibs' victory over Rangers.