20-03-2025
Fixing domestic form 'key' if Ferguson to stay as Rangers boss
Rangers having nothing to fear when facing Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League quarter-finals, according to Alex Rae, as the former assistant manager challenged the club to return to the San Mames Stadium for the final in progressed to the last eight with a penalty shootout win over Jose Mourinho's who left Ibrox along with Philippe Clement last month, says his old side should enter the tie with "plenty of confidence" given their recent exploits in the competition, particularly reaching the final in 2022."Athletic Bilbao are a very decent outfit, they're fourth in La Liga," Rae told BBC Radio Scotland. "That tells you about the kind of opposition they're up against. "But one of the key things over the last four or five years is that Rangers have pulled out some really big moments in this competition against big, big clubs, so they'll go into it with plenty of confidence. "It suits them as well with this transitional moment they're in, with a low block, being compact, trying to hit teams on the break."Playing in Europe has long suited Rangers' style, but Rae says building on last weekend's derby win by improving their domestic form is key for Ferguson if he wishes to secure the position on a permanent basis."Going forward between now and the summer, that's key for Barry and his team," Rae added."That might strengthen his hand in terms of getting the job permanently. "It would be great to go to Bilbao again in the summer having been to Seville a couple of years ago, but the domestic form needs to be a lot more positive, particularly the away form."The home form in the league was fine, up until the St Mirren game a few weeks ago."It was competitive - the type of form would have given you a crack at the title - but unfortunately we couldn't maintain that away from home."
