In a thrilling evening of European football, Rangers secured a commanding 3-1 victory against Fenerbahce, ending the Turkish side's impressive 18-match unbeaten streak. The match took place on Thursday night, with Rangers showcasing their prowess on the field, thanks to goals from Cyriel Dessers and a double from Vaclav Cerny. The result leaves Rangers in a strong position as they head into the second leg at Ibrox next week with a two-goal advantage. However, both teams remain cautious, recognizing that the tie is far from over.
Rangers delivered a robust performance, with Jack Butland making three fantastic saves to keep Fenerbahce at bay. At times, the Scottish side looked a real threat going forward, executing their strategies as planned. Despite the win, Barry Ferguson, the manager of Rangers, urged his team not to celebrate excessively just yet.
"The only thing I tell them is, don't celebrate too much. Because there is a second match. It's my only advice." – Barry Ferguson
Mourinho's Perspective on the Match
Jose Mourinho, known for his candid assessments, did not shy away from critiquing his team's overall performance. Mourinho acknowledged that Fenerbahce was not just poor in defense but lacked effectiveness across the board.
"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." – Jose Mourinho
Despite the setback, Mourinho described the 3-1 loss as "a good result," suggesting that the scoreline could have been worse given their performance on the night.
"Maybe you laugh, but for me it was a good result, because the way we performed the result could be bigger than this." – Jose Mourinho
Mourinho remains optimistic about the upcoming second leg, emphasizing that it's only half-time in this contest.
Ferguson's Confidence in Rangers
Barry Ferguson expressed satisfaction with his team's display against Fenerbahce. He highlighted the dedication and effort his players had demonstrated throughout the week leading to the match.
"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." – Barry Ferguson
Ferguson holds immense respect for Mourinho's capabilities as a manager, considering him one of the best in football history. Nonetheless, Ferguson is focused on preparing his squad for the crucial second leg next Thursday.
Looking Ahead to Next Week
Both teams will take a couple of days to rest before resuming preparations for what promises to be an intense encounter next week. Rangers will aim to maintain their advantage and secure progression to the last eight of the competition. Meanwhile, Fenerbahce will look to regroup and challenge Rangers' lead at Ibrox.
Mourinho made it clear that despite the setback, his team does not consider themselves out of contention for the next round.
"There's no way we think we're in the last eight." – Jose Mourinho
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