Rangers

We asked for your views on Rangers' dramatic shootout win over Fenerbahce and facing Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Here's what some of you said:

Peter: The "Ibrox woes" will remain until we have a striker who can consistently deliver. There lies the fundamental issue. Yes the team showed character which is to be commended, however to put the ball (in open play), in the net five times away and zero at home says it all.

Alan: It was a brave performance and excellent overall win. However, the second leg exposed the continued poor form at home which is concerning. We can hopefully continue in this competition and reach another final while building for next season.

Thomas: Not a vintage Rangers but they got the job done. It keeps the season going for both the players and the supporters. Need to get back on track domestically, losing four home games on the spin is frankly embarrassing, but bring on Bilbao in the quarters!

Gerry: A memorable night for all the Rangers fans. To make the Europa League quarters is commendable. Let's not get carried away. Four home defeats in a row. Europe is an Elastoplast covering the cracks. Barry Ferguson cannot be made permanent manager.

Ronnie: Fantastic to reach the quarter-finals, however we did lose the match and that's four on the spin at Ibrox. We did show resilience especially in extra time. But Hamza Igamane once again was very poor. His selfishness denied us good chances to score. Delighted for Barry. I'm pinching myself, we are only two rounds away from the final.

Dougie: To get to the quarter-finals is some achievement and great for Scottish football, when we got Fenerbahce I didn't think we would get through. Bilbao will be harder but you never know with this team and Thursday nights. Proud.

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Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson on BBC Sportsound

"I've got to give them massive credit because at 2-0 down, heading into extra time, I feared for Rangers.

"But they managed to galvanise themselves and regain composure. They showed a lot of bravery, shown mostly by their captain James Tavernier. Rangers' penalties were excellent and Jack Butland was phenomenal."

Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday on BBC Sportsound

"Butland is the hero. We talked about his lack of form this season compared to last. All of that is firmly out the window. I'm delighted for him - it's a lonely position being a goalkeeper and he deserves all the credit he gets for two massive stops in the shooutout.

"Rangers were second best for large parts of the night, but they will not care."

Commentator Liam McLeod on BBC Sportsound

"The Interim One has got the better of the Special One.

"Rangers were pushed to the brink but prevailed in a competition they cannot do too much wrong in. This is where they come to life for sure. What a night it's been for them."

Former Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield on TNT Sports

"James Tavernier was amazing in central defence. Leon Balogun, he's such a voice on the pitch, but he's so athletic as well. When you've got that athleticism going back the way it makes it so much easier to press high, because you know he won't get caught out for pace."

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• Rangers have reached the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup/Europa League for the third time, after 2007-08 and 2021-22, where they were losing finalists in both.

• Since the start of last season, only Dusan Tadic and Edin Dzeko (56 each) have more goals and assists combined in all competitions for Fenerbahce than Sebastian Szymanski (18 goals, 27 assists).

• Rangers captain James Tavernier made his 61st appearance in major European competition for the club, moving one clear of current boss Barry Ferguson (60) to become the outright third most appearance maker after Allan McGregor (78) and John Greig (62).

• Fenerbahçe scored with their first shot on target of the game, in the 45th minute, while the Turkish giants secured only their second victory in last 12 knockout stage away games in major European competition (D3 L7).

• Rangers have won just two of their past eight home games in European competition including qualifiers (D2 L4) while the Glasgow giants failed to score on home soil in Europe for just the third time in the past 14.

• Rangers have won four of their six penalty shootouts in European competition while Fenerbahçe have lost two of their three.

Sevilla are preparing a €10m offer for Hamza Igamane but fear it could fall short if the Rangers striker shines on international duty with Morocco. (Vamos Mi Sevilla via Scottish Sun, external)

Rangers have earned just over £11m from their Europa League exploits - without including ticket sales from five sold-out home matches and the guarantee of at least one more in the quarter-finals. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson: "I actually thought we played well. The two goals we could do better but one thing I've got to say about my group of players is they showed character. I thought we handled the penalty situation very well. the main objective was to make sure I got this club into the last eight and I've done that.

Since we've been in we've tried to chance. the group of players were short of confidence so that's something we've worked on over the last couple of weeks. tonight I've got to give the supporters a mention, I thought they stuck to the team until the very end.

"To play for the club and then captain it was obviously a dream but to stand on the sidelines and lead the team I grew up supporting was an amazing feeling. When I was appointed I know people said I wasn't qualified or I wasn't the right guy for the job, that just makes me even more determined.

"I'm going to give it everything for the next few months. the player are digging deep for me and that's all I asked.

"I thought tonight's performance in terms of the result wasn't great but the way the players carried themselves, kept going to the very end. I'm delighted for the players, for the board of directors and most importantly for the supporters.

"We're obviously 16 points behind Celtic but we've still got a lot to play for in my opinion. You have to go and show what it means to play at this club.

"Europe is a long shot in terms of getting to the final but we're going to give it our best shot.

"In the league games we need to show that we're more than capable of making challenges every single season."

Well Rangers fans, if you've got your breath back we want to know what you made of that win over Fenerbache. How are you feeling about Athletic Bilbao in the next round? What about Sunday's game against Celtic?

Give us your thoughts, external.

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Rangers defender Leon Balogun: "It was tough, we made it harder for ourselves than it needed to be.

"We suffered out there, you all saw it, but we dug in, stuck together and grinded it out. It's a great moment for Jack Butland as well.

"It's one of those where you just have to take it as it is. We did the groundwork last week. In the beginning we would have loved to score one and have a bit of a breather but it wasn't meant to be.

"It's special already. Europe, for the time I've been at the club, has always been special. Thursday nights at Ibrox are so special. These guys in the stands give it their all, they don't have it easy with everything that's going on outside of football plus our season up and down domestically. I think I speak for everyone when I say it's for them."

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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.