Barry Ferguson Faces the Fight of His Life as Rangers Brace for Europa League Test Against Athletic Club
Interim Rangers manager Barry Ferguson cut a determined yet realistic figure as he faced the press ahead of a daunting Europa League showdown with La Liga heavyweights Athletic Club. The former Ibrox captain, thrown into the dugout amid one of the most turbulent periods in the club’s recent history, is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge his team faces — both on the pitch and in the stands.
Ferguson didn’t sugar-coat the dismal state of domestic affairs. Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Hibs — Rangers’ fifth straight home loss, setting an unwanted club record — sent a furious Ferguson into full crisis mode. The loss not only deepened the club’s Scottish Premiership woes but also further cemented Celtic’s dominance, with their sixth domestic treble in nine years casting a long shadow over Ibrox.
That crushing defeat sparked emergency talks at Auchenhowie. Ferguson revealed that a marathon meeting between players, staff and management took place on Monday morning in an effort to clear the air and arrest the freefall. “Let’s just say, we had a long, long chat,” Ferguson confirmed. “I aired my views, so did my staff and so did the players, which I was happy with.” While he was keen to keep the details in-house, Ferguson struck an optimistic tone about the outcome, citing a positive mood in training and “bubbly” energy among the squad.
But beyond the dressing-room summit, Ferguson was candid about the deeper malaise plaguing Rangers — a lack of consistency and mental fortitude. “I’ve got a good idea of what’s gone wrong,” he said. “We’ve played really well in some games, but in others, we’ve looked like a totally different team. That’s not good enough.”
One key area of concern? The team’s inability to respond when falling behind. “When we go a goal down early or make a mistake, it affects the team,” Ferguson lamented. “I keep telling them, there’s plenty of minutes left in the game. I can accept mistakes and poor performances, but not players hiding when the going gets tough. I want people demanding the ball in difficult circumstances.”
That theme — the mental fragility of his squad — hovered over much of the press conference, and Ferguson acknowledged the need to make changes. While he refused to confirm any specific lineup decisions, he hinted at a shakeup for the visit of Athletic Club, stressing that “places are up for grabs.”
Ferguson came to the defence of striker Cyriel Dessers amid questions over whether he or Danilo would start. “I’d be more concerned if he wasn’t getting into positions,” the manager said, suggesting the issue may be more about confidence or delivery rather than effort. Goalkeeper Jack Butland’s future as the starting No.1 was also left open-ended, with Ferguson refusing to comment on any one-on-one conversations.
Instead, the Rangers boss kept his cards close to his chest. “I’d be crazy to sit here and tell you the formation or who I’m going to play,” he said, underlining that tactical flexibility and full-team consideration are paramount heading into a match of this magnitude.
And what a task lies ahead. Athletic Club arrive as one of the competition’s form sides and, in Ferguson’s words, “the favourites for the tournament.” The Ibrox boss was glowing in his praise of the Basque side, particularly the dynamic Williams brothers in wide areas and their technically astute midfield.
“I think they’re a step up from Fenerbahce,” Ferguson admitted, referencing Rangers’ dramatic penalty shootout win in the last round. “They’ve got a very British style about them — they can play out from the back, but they’re not afraid to go long either. They’re aggressive, they’re compact, and they’re streetwise.”
Despite the daunting opponent, Ferguson’s tone was one of defiant optimism. He believes Rangers can rise to the occasion if they apply themselves properly and reconnect with the fans, whose support has understandably waned. Saturday’s match against Hibs ended with the stands emptying rapidly after the second goal — a moment Ferguson described as one of the most painful of his short tenure.
“That was a sore one,” he said. “It’s tough standing at the touchline and seeing that. But I don’t blame the fans. They deserve better.”
The onus, he insists, is now on the players to inspire those fans once again. “I’ve got no fear about the supporters being there at the start. But we have to give them something. We need to go and put on a performance. They’ll get behind us if we do.”
That, more than anything, is Ferguson’s battle cry: a call for pride, passion and belief. The Europa League has offered brief salvation in a season otherwise defined by domestic embarrassment. Victory over Fenerbahce was a high point. But a win against Athletic Club — a team Ferguson plainly respects as a level above — would be a statement that not all hope is lost.
For Rangers, for their fans, and for Barry Ferguson himself, Thursday night offers not just another game — but a shot at redemption.
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