Jose Mourinho stands in the way of Philippe Clement and a spot in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Nicolas Raskin insists that Rangers have no fear of facing Fenerbahce.
The Belgian midfielder is excited about the challenge of taking on the Turkish side in the last 16 of the Europa League. Mourinho’s team eliminated Raskin’s compatriots, Anderlecht, to set up the two-legged clash. Despite Fenerbahce’s roster of top international talents, Raskin said: “We believe in ourselves. We know what we need to do, and we’re not afraid of anyone.
“We’ll approach it one game at a time and aim for victory. The first match will be tough away from home, but if we can secure a positive result, returning to Ibrox will give us a great advantage.
“It’s an exciting prospect. I watched their match against Anderlecht. They’re a quality team with top players. They play some aggressive, man-to-man pressing, which will make it an interesting encounter.
“The atmosphere in Turkey looks intense, but our home atmosphere is special. It’s going to be a fantastic experience.
“I’ve never played in Turkey before, so it will be a new experience. They’re known for having a challenging atmosphere, but it’s a good test for us.”
Mourinho is preparing to end Rangers’ run in the competition, and Raskin remembers watching the Special One’s teams dominate Europe during his childhood. He said, “I remember his teams being very successful, especially in Europe. It will be interesting.”
However, Raskin emphasized that, like his coach Philippe Clement, Rangers are more focused on Fenerbahce’s players than on their famous manager. He added, “It’s cool to see someone you’ve watched on TV, but once on the pitch, that doesn’t matter.”
Rangers have already faced a similar atmosphere in Athens against Olympiacos, but Raskin isn’t sure how much that experience will help.
He explained, “It might help a bit, but this will be a different challenge. We’re used to playing in big atmospheres, so that’s what will help us most.
“We’re excited to face Fenerbahce. They’re a strong team with a great atmosphere. We’re all looking forward to it.”
Regarding the potential American investment from the San Francisco 49ers, Raskin echoed his manager’s cautious approach.
“To be honest, we don’t know much about it. We only hear what’s in the news, so we’ll just wait and see how things unfold,” he said.
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