Interim boss Barry Ferguson insists it would be idiotic to think Rangers are through to the Europa League quarter-finals with the stunning 3-1 win over Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
Ferguson changed the Gers shape to a back three for the first time in the first leg and it contributed to a remarkable performance.
Cyriel Dessers netted the opener, which was cancelled out by home substitute Alexander Djiku and the Nigeria international also had two goals ruled out for offside after the break but winger Vaclav Cerny scored a double to put the Light Blues in the box seat for the second leg at Ibrox next Thursday night.
🔥#UEL pic.twitter.com/q0dKSXtU7Y
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) March 6, 2025
“There’s no way that the tie is over,” said former Gers captain Ferguson, who revealed defender Robin Propper suffered a bit of concussion after he was headed by his own keeper Jack Butland, which meant he had to be replaced by Leon Balogun, but should be okay.
“It was a great result for us tonight but it’s only been a half-time. I have huge respect for Jose as a manager, as I mentioned earlier on he’s one of the best that’s ever been, and when you look at his team, he has got players that are really dangerous and can really affect games so there’s no way that we think we’re in the last eight.
“I would be an absolute idiot if I thought that because, as I said, I’ve got respect.
“I thought it was a really good performance from my team. They gave me everything that I asked for from the start of the week.

“We went a different way from what we’re used to playing. They took a lot of information in.
“One thing I’ve got to give them is credit because they took every single thing that me and my coaching staff went over on the training ground.
“I thought tonight, at times, going forward, they looked a real threat. I thought defensively, the guys put their bodies on the line. Overall, it was a brilliant result.
“I said that to the players. We’ll have a couple of days rest because they worked ever so hard tonight. Then we’ll get back to work because it’s a big game for us next Thursday.”
Mourinho claimed it was a good result for his side as Rangers should have won by more – but he also warned that the tie is not over.

The Portuguese boss said: “We were very bad everywhere. I think it’s not fair to say we were very bad in defence, because we were very bad everywhere.
“Maybe you laugh, but for me it was a good result, because the way we performed the result could be bigger than this.
“I know that Butland made three fantastic saves. I know that there is, I think, a penalty, but to speak about the referee after this performance, I don’t think it’s ethical.
“The chances we had to score we didn’t. The dynamic in midfield was not good. Defensively, we made incredible mistakes. We never controlled that.
“They defended a lot with the block very low, a good and dangerous counter-attack, so we deserve the punishment of this result. But if somebody later wants to ask me do I think it’s over, no, I don’t think it’s over. There is 90 or 120 minutes to play.
“It’s the only positive thing. And from this game, I don’t take any positives. Everything went wrong.
“The only thing I tell them is, don’t celebrate too much because there is a second match. It’s my only advice.”
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says his side will travel to Paris for their Champions League quarter-final first leg with confidence after racking up a seventh win in a row.Villa beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 to boost their chances of returning to Europe’s biggest stage next season thanks to goals from Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen in the opening 15 minutes.They have real momentum as they set si...

Ryan Galvin’s late equaliser earned Halifax a 1-1 draw at Eastleigh to aid their bid for a promotion play-off spot.The hosts had the chance to go in front after 30 minutes when Jake Taylor was brought down in the area. The midfielder took the resulting penalty himself but it was palmed away by keeper Toby Savin before Tyrese Shade put the rebound wide.Eastleigh’s bad luck then continue...

Aston Villa warmed up for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris St Germain with a crunch 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest which boosts their chances of returning to Europe’s biggest stage next season.Villa’s electric start saw Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen both score in the opening 15 minutes to put them on the road to a seventh successive win in all competitions...

Raging Barry Ferguson promised a series of changes and a switch in style at Rangers following a demoralising 2-0 defeat by Hibernian at Ibrox.Another mistake by Light Blues goalkeeper Jack Butland allowed Dylan Levitt to score in the eighth minute and a goal from Martin Boyle in the 69th minute extended the visitors’ unbeaten run in the William Hill Premiership to 16 games and left the Gers ...

Fleetwood manager Pete Wild rubbished talk of his side’s League Two play-off chances after Saturday’s crushing 4-0 defeat to Swindon, saying “We were never going to get to the play-offs.”Goals by Kabongo Tshimanga, Miguel Freckleton, a Rhys Bennett own goal and a late contribution by Nnamdi Ofoborh were more than enough to see the visiting Robins take maximum points from th...

Colchester boss Danny Cowley said his side’s 1-0 win over promotion contenders Notts County was one of the best victories of his career after seeing their preparations badly hit by illness.Tyreece Simpson struck the U’s winner in the 43rd minute when he converted from close range after Oscar Thorn had robbed Will Jarvis of possession near the edge of the area.It sealed a valuable victo...

Mark Hughes was pleased with his Carlisle side’s 3-2 win against Newport, but the Cumbrians are still eight points adrift of safety and staring down the barrel of relegation.The Exiles took the lead with two goals in a matter of minutes. Kieron Evans put them ahead and then Bobby Kamwa produced a wonder goal to send the visitors two up but a brace from Georgie Kelly and a late goal from Aaro...

Oliver Glasner said nine-man Crystal Palace’s victory was a priceless achievement after they clung on to a 2-1 lead to secure their first league double over arch-rivals Brighton in 92 years.Daniel Munoz’s deflected strike 10 minutes into the second half ultimately made the difference at Selhurst Park, but the Eagles needed everything in the tank to survive 12 minutes of added time foll...

Kevin Nolan hoped to push for “as many points as possible” after Northampton eased their League One relegation fears with a 4-0 thrashing at 10-man Peterborough.The Cobblers ended their four-game winless run by putting Posh to the sword at London Road, opening up a welcome seven-point cushion over the dreaded drop zone.Sam Hoskins was at the double, while Dara Costelloe and Tom Eaves b...

Tony Docherty believes free-scoring Dundee striker Simon Murray should receive international recognition.The uncapped 33-year-old netted both goals against St Mirren to secure a vital 2-0 home victory for the second-bottom Dark Blues in their battle to stay up.Murray’s goal tally for the season now stands at 21, with 15 of them coming in the league – the same as Celtic’s Daizen M...



- 1 Aaron Collins scores against former club as Bolton beat Bristol Rovers
- 2 Alan Sheehan happy to grind out win over Derby
- 3 Five draws in a row for Gillingham as points shared with Salford
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Hollywood superstar Anne Hathaway sends clear message to Bukayo Saka
- 6 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 7 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis
- 8 In-form Hibs condemn Rangers to record fifth successive home defeat
- 9 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender
- 10 Kieran Green at the double as Grimsby see off Morecambe