Fenerbache 1-3 Rangers: Key stats
Rangers have won consecutive Europa League games for the first time since February 2021, courtesy of two wins against Royal Antwerp in the last 32.Rangers secured their third away win in Europe this season, their joint-most in a single campaign in all competitions (excl. qualifiers) along with 2020-21.Three of Cyriel Dessers' four Europa League goals for Rangers have come in his last six appearances in the competition, while he has been involved in 13 goals in his last 12 appearances in all competitions (10 goals, three assists).Only James Tavernier in 2021-22 (seven) has scored more goals in a single season in Europe for Rangers than Vaclav Cerny in 2024-25 (six).This was James Tavernier's 60th game in major European competition for Rangers, the joint-third most of any Rangers player, level with current manager Barry Ferguson and behind only Allan McGregor (78) and John Greig (62).Fenerbahce shipped three goals in a European knockout game (excl. play-offs) on home soil for the first time since February 2007 against AZ (3-3).Alexander Djiku's goal on 29 minutes 38 seconds for Fenerbahce was the earliest by a substitute in the Europa League since 14 February 2013 (Rodrigo Palacio for Internazionale v CFR Cluj – 19m 41s) and the third earliest by a sub in the history of the competition.
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Scotland seek answers in Liechtenstein: Steve Clarke's changes, 'shouldn't be panic' and chance-taker
In last match before World Cup qualifiers, Clarke and co require a response Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The tranquil setting of Vaduz on the banks of the Rhine should not be a place where further pressure is put on a football manager. Flanked by mountains, visitors usually return refreshed and happy. The small nation of Liechtenstein is currently ranked 202 in the FIFA World rankings. Only Hong Kong have suffered defeat to them in the past five years. Their 'golden' era of most-capped keeper Peter Jehle and star striker Mario Frick are long gone. Konrad Fünfstück's are usually deemed as easy prey for opponents of any meaningful repute. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland fall into that category as they arrive at the Rheinpark Stadion on the Swiss border. This is down as an away win, with odds of 1/12 from most bookmakers. San Marino scored three times when they rocked up here in November. It was an evening of anguish for Scotland against Iceland last time out. | SNS Group History with Liechtenstein won't ease any queasiness, mind you. On Scotland's only previous sojourn to Vaduz in 2011, they narrowly prevailed 1-0 thanks to a goal from Craig Mackail-Smith. That came a year on from an almost catastrophic first meeting with Liechtenstein, when Stephen McManus' 97th-minute header earned a 2-1 win at Hampden. The last match of a long season, many in the Scotland squad are entitled to feel jaded. There have been title wins, cup successes and long European runs. This probably isn't their idea of an Alpine retreat. Nevertheless, Scotland need to tool up for one final job ahead of the holidays. A meek 3-1 defeat by Iceland on Friday night and the lacklustre nature of the performance requires a response. This is the last time head coach Steve Clarke will have his squad together before the World Cup qualification campaign kicks off in September against Denmark. The Parken Stadion will be a world away from the docile 7,584 arena they play in on Monday evening. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland 'need to win their next game' Scotland will want to bounce into the autumn matches, of that there is no doubt. Their recent record in friendlies is poor and Clarke wanted to address that in this double-header. Iceland has come and gone, now it's about doing a number on Liechtenstein. "We need to win our next game on Monday night," was the blunt assessment of midfielder Lewis Ferguson after Iceland. "We need to go and put on a good performance and win the game. Winning games is what breeds confidence. We need to get back to that." Clarke himself admits he is not the most adventurous when it comes to mixing it up with team selection. The manager may have been wrestling with whether to give his main men a chance to atone for Friday and get a much-needed triumph under their belt in Scotland colours, or blood some of the uncapped players in his current group. As it is, injury and fatigue may play a part, with Clarke accepting he may make more alterations than usual. The likes of Josh Doig, Andy Irving and Kieron Bowie will be desperate for game-time and their international debuts. A maiden appearance may come between the sticks after Cieran Slicker was unceremoniously thrown in at the deep end for his first senior appearance for club or country against Iceland after Angus Gunn's second-minute injury and was at fault for all three goals. Celtic-bound keeper Ross Doohan has been summoned from his holidays to join the squad. Doohan has made 20 appearances for Aberdeen this season and seems likely to make his debut, having been solid at Pittodrie all season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One may ask why he wasn't in the squad ahead of others. One may also ask why Clarke reverted back to a back-three against Iceland when the back-four had been a reasonable success in the Nations League A campaign against more glamourous opposition. Kieran Tierney's injury may force a formation change. Scott McTominay, the poster boy after Serie A success with Napoli, will also be absent due to a niggle. That means Clarke doesn't need to find the best way to shoe-horn all of his top-level midfielders into one team. It is hard to get Ferguson, John McGinn, Billy Gilmour and McTominay effectively on the pitch at the same time. Craig Mackail-Smith scores the winner against Liechtenstein for Scotland back in 2011. | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 And then there are the strikers. Che Adams has not scored for Scotland in a year, and the Torino hitman must sense an opportunity against Liechtenstein. They are rarely scudded, but Adams will surely get chances if selected ahead of George Hirst as Clarke's No 9. He needs to take them. Within the squad, there is awareness of the talent at Scotland's disposal. "There shouldn't be any panic," Ferguson advised. "We've good strong squad, with plenty of quality and experience. But we do recognise that we need to get back to winning ways and get back to performing at the levels we know we're capable of." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Steve Clarke owes Scotland only one thing and if he can't guarantee it then he should walk away
It doesn't mention it in the manual and they don't hand it out with the coaching badges either. But, somewhere along the line, in order to even want to be a manager these days, it seems as if nursing masochistic tendencies is almost a prerequisite. Really, why else would they put themselves through it? Why would Russell Martin, for example, have stalled for so long on taking an easy life at Leicester City in order to throw himself into the lion's den at Ibrox? Martin hasn't even clocked into Auchenhowie for his first day in the office but he is well aware already there are Rangers supporters out there who would prefer that he didn't bother. The same goes for Steven Pressley at Dundee even though he's currently celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary in Vietnam and has still to set foot back in the city he once called home. He's about to discover a far more arduous marriage awaits. Barry Ferguson, meanwhile, is relaxing with the family in the Greek sunshine but probably still simmering a little inside at the manner with which he was waved off to the airport by Kevin Thelwell and Gretar Steinsson. Ange Postecoglu will be hitting a beach too with a big fat redundo cheque in the back pocket of his togs, after doing the impossible and winning a trophy for Spurs and getting sacked off by them for his trouble. And then there's the curious case of Steve Clarke - the man who ushered Scotland back in from the wilderness years - but who now stands accused of botching the job with the most talented group of players the country has assembled in decades. It all feels a little bit like touch and go right now for Clarke ahead of the friendly in Liechtenstein - on the back of a pride crushing defeat at home to Iceland on Friday night. Any more missteps at the Rheinpark Stadium and he'd be better off hiding out in Vaduz for the summer rather than returning to Glasgow Airport on Scotland's team charter, where only misery and malevolence will be waiting for him at arrivals. It won't happen, of course. No matter what side Clarke cobbles together - and even if the unfortunate Cieran Slicker remains in goal - Scotland will still have enough about them to get out of town with a win against the Lilliputians of the European game. And it will mean absolutely nothing in any case. Because there are Scotland fans out there who have decided that Clarke's time ought to be up. That he's taken this team just as far as he can. Perhaps, that some of the star performers in his team have outgrown him along the way. And, in all honesty, all of the above may well be correct. But here's the thing about Clarke. After leading Scotland to successive European Championships he owes us almost nothing at all. Nothing, that is, apart from complete and utter honesty. If deep down he truly believes he's still the man for the job and that these players of his are receptive to his messaging and instructions, then he has more than earned the right to have a crack at taking them to the next World Cup before bowing out from the position. If, however, he is experiencing any self doubt or feeling as if he's got little more to give, then he should walk away from it with his held high and with a nation's gratitude for the tournaments that he has delivered. It really is as simple as that where Clarke and Scotland are concerned. If he wants to continue in the job one last campaign then he should be allowed to do exactly that. But he has to be certain. And he must be honest to himself. Because the squad he has nurtured and brought to this point cannot be hindered or hamstrung by the man in charge nor can it have its growth stunted at this moment in time, when it feels as if it should be capable of trading blows with the giants. If Clarke is feeling jaded or fatigued by it all, after six years in charge, then he should step aside immediately and let someone else have a go while the likes of Kieran Tierney, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson and John McGinn are operating at the peak of their powers. These players deserve to be paraded on the biggest stage of all and it's not inconceivable that the likes of Postecoglou or even former Rangers interim Ferguson might connect with them and accelerate their collective development. But that's all down to how Clarke sees things. And rightly so. He gets to decide his own fate where this gig is concerned. Sadly, the same cannot be said for new Rangers boss Martin who is already a hostage to fortune in terms of his job security, even though he's not even started working with his players on the training ground yet. Martin is an articulate, highly intelligent and very likeable young manager. That he has such an ardent and clear view on how he wants the game to be played is another admirable trait. If it works, then he could have the kind of transformational impact on Rangers that Postecoglou had across the city at Parkhead. Let's not forget, a large section of Celtic's supporters were also completely underwhelmed by the big Aussie's appointment when he was rushed into the position after Eddie Howe had taken cold feet at the eleventh hour. But that's where the similarities end. Postecoglou had a track record of trophies and triumphs behind him before he arrived in Glasgow. Martin has the wreckage of a relegation season with Southampton still smouldering in his rear view mirror. All of which means the new man will start next season under the cosh with a support which already suspects the worst of him. Unlike Clarke and Scotland, Martin has deposited nothing whatsoever in the bank of goodwill so - in order to build up some early credit - he will have to be absolutely immaculate in the manner with which he goes about his work over the first few weeks and months of the season. And, given the woeful state of the squad he is inheriting, the chances of that happening seem remote at the very best. Martin must truly believe in himself, in his philosophy and in his staff, or else he wouldn't have touched this task with a bargepole. And that courage in his convictions is to be respected, especially considering the offer he had to slip back down into the quiet life of England's Championship at the King Power. Instead, he has chosen to step into a furnace. All of which just adds weight to the theory that you don't have to be a masochist to be a football manager. But it certainly seems to help.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Russell Martin needs radical Rangers change but bold James Tavernier captain call divides Monday Jury
Is Steve Clarke still the right man to lead Scotland into the World Cup qualifiers? KEITH JACKSON: That depends entirely on Clarke's own mindset. He has to be very honest with himself and with the country. If he feels he's still the best man for the Scotland job then he has earned the right to go again. On the other hand, if he's grown weary or suspects the players need a new voice then he should step aside. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: He will definitely lead us into them. The question is, will he still be there by the end of that WC campaign? Right now, that looks doubtful. The form is woeful and the negativity is back. Defeat to Denmark in the first qualifier – before facing Belarus away – would all but end our hopes and the manager will be under pressure. SCOTT BURNS: I don't think we can change now. I do think things are on a knife-edge for the manager. If he doesn't make a good start then it will be the end of the road. Hopefully, he can do it. MICHAEL GANNON: Clarke has earned the right to go on his own terms and if he wants a crack at the World Cup then he deserves it. Ignore these useless friendlies, they are more hassle than they are worth. What changes should be made for the Liechtenstein game? KEITH JACKSON: As many as possible. This game means nothing so Clarke should take a look at what he's got in reserve. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: He has to revert to a back four again for starters. If that means Kieran Tierney is left out, so be it. And Clarke somehow has to inject a bit of pace into a side which is bereft of it. I'd give Tommy Conway a run-out for his speed. SCOTT BURNS: The score! I know the manager was criticised for playing three at the back against Iceland, but these are the games to experiment. I would expect Ross Doohan to start and he'll go back to a 4-3-2-1 formation. MICHAEL GANNON: It's a bounce game against a pub team. Sent out an entirely new look side and let's see who has the ability and hunger to break into the big side. Let's see the likes of Miller, Bowie, Wilson and Conway get on, we know what the regulars can bring. Should Russell Martin hang his hat on James Tavernier as Rangers captain? KEITH JACKSON: No. Unfairly or not Tavernier has been the poster boy for the Rangers' underachievement over the last ten years. It's time for radical change. If Nico Raskin is staying then he should be given the armband. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: He's been a terrific servant at Ibrox and deserves his testimonial year. But Martin should be looking to sign a ready-made skipper to take over the armband – with Tavernier's help – and lead a new era at Rangers. SCOTT BURNS: I think he will remain as captain. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up maybe playing in one either. I think Russell Martin's style might get the best out of him. MICHAEL GANNON: There's nothing wrong with keeping Tavernier as club captain but he'll need to be phased out of the team over the next year. It's time for a new era at the club. Was Daniel Levy right to hand Angel Postecoglou his Spurs jotters? KEITH JACKSON: Probably. It did look as if the players had chucked it under Postecoglou and when that happens there is no way back. But Ange should have made the decision for him by dropping the mic the moment he lifted the Europa League trophy. He must have known it wasn't working. SCOTT MCDERMOTT: No. The historic Europa League triumph in Bilbao should have earned him a crack at another Premier League campaign and the Champions League. He got them to fifth in his first season then won a trophy. He deserved to at least start the new campaign. SCOTT BURNS: It is a bit harsh after winning a European trophy. Yet, in the Premier League they were miles below where they should be, although there were mitigating circumstances. It looks like the change was planned before the Europa League final.
