Anotehr Thursday thriller at Ibrox but boy did Barry Ferguson’s Rangers put the Light Blue legions through the wringer against Fenerbahce.
Gers blew a two-goal lead at home to Jose Mourinho’s men – but it was the Special One and his team blown away on penalties on an extraordinary night in Govan.
Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, was still trying to catch his breath as he called the Hotline to say: “These Europa League nights at Ibrox should come with a health warning. It was heart failure stuff at times as we struggled against a very good side. In truth, it was a poor performance but all that matters is they went through to keep our Europa League final dream alive.”
Rangers now march on to a tough quarter-final showdown with Athletic Bilbao but before that there’s a small matter of Sunday’s Old Firm showdown. Joe Graham, Garrowhill, said: “Jose Mourinho’s comments that his team was better than Barry’s rebounded back in his face.
“He must have been talking about the cost of his players. You can’t deny European Rangers didn’t deserve to progress to the last eight over the two legs. They were tremendous again as they flew the flag for Scotland.
“Now they need to keep the fans singing on Sunday by beating Brendan Rodgers’ Champions League flops. Barry has got his team fighting and believing again. Roll on Sunday.”
George Wilson, West Sussex, said: “Caller Gordon Ashley has been at it again. He’s been telling us for a couple of years that Rangers have the worst ever record in Champions League qualifiers. Now that two teams this season have worse records than Rangers’ 2022 campaign he has moved the goal posts and is now talking about the worst in a four-team format.
“The man is a laughing stock and to be pitied. Anyway Gordon, we play minnows Atletico Bilbao in the quarter-finals of the Mickey Mouse European trophy next month. You can watch The Apprentice.”
Mark Smith, Cumbernauld, said: “So the Special One gets outclassed by ‘The Chosen One’. It was an absolute masterclass by rookie boss Barry Ferguson!
“I wonder if Hotline regular Gordon Ashley will now shut up since Rangers don’t need Celtic’s money to succeed in Europe!”
James Galbraith emailed in: “Would it not be better if Celtic conceded their European spot to Rangers to keep up Scotland’s coefficient?”
But predictably, not everyone was quite so impressed by Gers’ shoot-out success. Arrin Geddes, Irvine said: “Well done to Europe’s Thursday night champions! Wee Barry’s tactical genius of surrendering possession and playing for penalties knowing Fenerbahce couldn’t hit a barn door from five-yards worked perfectly.
“It’s a shame half the team will be suspended when they try and do it all again next month, after the league’s finished.”
Kevin Kean, Inchinnan, said: “I find it puzzling that a rookie manager is talking about “character” and “digging deep” when his side lost 2-0 at HOME and only snuck through because the opposition missed three penalties!”
Scott McAdam, Glasgow, added: “Good to see Rangers scrape by another pub team. Bilbao are the first decent team they will have played and they will get spanked.
“Queen’s Park would give they teams they have faced this year a game. A beating by the champions on Sunday will give them a reality check of how poor they really are.”
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