Some in the Fenerbahce camp believed Rangers had a weak spot in their defense ahead of Thursday’s unexpected Europa League clash between managerial newcomer Barry Ferguson and the highly accomplished Jose Mourinho.
Former Fenerbahce full-back Ugur Boral predicted that the Turkish side would exploit Ridvan Yilmaz if Ferguson chose to play the ex-Besiktas man at right-back. However, Yilmaz didn’t start in that position—at least not exactly.
Instead, he featured as a right-sided wing-back in a reshaped five-man defense, a tactical adjustment by Ferguson that ultimately outmaneuvered Mourinho. Rangers secured a 3-1 victory at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, thanks to a Cyriel Dessers goal and a brace from Vaclav Cerny.
Ferguson had previously praised Yilmaz as one of Rangers’ most dependable players, and after another strong performance in an unfamiliar role, the former club captain was just as complimentary post-match.
Barry Ferguson Praises Ridvan Yilmaz After Rangers’ Win
“I’d like to think he has a future at Rangers, but my main focus is winning as many games as possible until the end of the season,” Ferguson said, addressing speculation about Yilmaz’s potential return to Turkey. He also commended the 23-year-old’s dedication to improving his game.
“He’s one of those players who stays behind after training to work on weaknesses—whether it’s something we’ve identified or something he’s noticed himself.”
Nico Raskin was another standout, delivering an excellent performance in midfield alongside Mohamed Diomande and Connor Barron, who made his first appearance since facing Manchester United in late January.
Ferguson also highlighted the impact of John Souttar’s return, with the center-back making 10 clearances in Istanbul. His physicality played a key role in limiting Fenerbahce to just one goal, although Mourinho was quick to praise Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland for his “fantastic” display.
“I thought it was a really strong performance,” Ferguson said. “The players gave everything I asked for from the start of the week. Defensively, they put their bodies on the line. It was a brilliant result.
“But we’re not getting carried away—this is only half-time in the tie. Fenerbahce are a top team and one of the favorites to win the competition. Plus, they have one of the greatest managers of all time. They’ll be hurting.
“I told the players we’ll rest for a couple of days because they worked extremely hard. Then we’ll prepare for another big game next Thursday.”
### Ferguson Downplays Robin Propper Injury Concerns
One setback from the game was the early exit of Robin Propper, who lasted just 30 minutes after colliding with Butland. Veteran defender Leon Balogun replaced him.
With Souttar, Balogun, and Dujon Sterling all available again, Ferguson is keen to avoid any defensive setbacks.
“Robin was out cold for a minute or two,” Ferguson explained. “He’s up and about now, so he should be fine, but we have to be cautious. It’s a bit of a concussion, so we’ll assess him over the next few days.”
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