Nine Barry Ferguson takeaways as Gers boss addresses Vaclav Cerny, UEFA ban and Ibrox future
Barry Ferguson has been addressing the press ahead of Rangers’ Scottish Premiership visit to Dundee.
Rangers are without a win at Dens Park this season, having drawn 1-1 with Dundee in the Scottish Premiership under Philippe Clement back in January.
Things are certainly different under Barry Ferguson at Ibrox with the interim Rangers manager bringing back a sense of pride in his first month in charge.
Lee McCulloch reckons Ferguson is Rangers manager material but there are now two months to go for Ferguson to convince the club’s prospective new US owners to take a chance on him next season.
It’s been a long two weeks since Rangers last played a game of football, although Hamza Igamane’s late volley at Celtic Park will live long in the memory.
Here’s everything Ferguson had to say in his pre-match press conference as Rangers get back to Scottish Premiership duties, with the Ibrox legend touching on everything from Vaclav Cerny’s watergate scandal to UEFA’s suspended Ibrox sentence in the wake of a controversial banner.
Rangers internationals now fresh doubts for Dundee trip
“The players obviously I gave them a week off. Physically they’ve put a lot into it. It was good just to go and get a breather and let the dust settle a wee bit. It’s great to be back in now.
“That’s the first day we’ve had all the international players back as well. So we just need to see how of them are.
“They never trained today a couple of them because of travel etc. But look raring to go again. Had a nice break and now we look forward to the final couple of months of the season.”
”I won’t know until tomorrow. There’s one/two that are carrying slight knocks.
”As I said they never trained today. I’ll find out tomorrow. If they don’t train tomorrow obviously they won’t be part of the travelling squad. So I just need to wait and see how they wake up in the morning.
”They’ll come in, they’ll see the doctors and the physios then I’ll need to make a decision on that.
”It’s not been ideal if I’m being honest with you because I’ve not had everybody. Tomorrow will be the first I’ve had everybody in a couple of weeks. But it was good.
“The guys who weren’t on international duty we did a fair bit of work with them. As I said it was enjoyable. Trying to still put a few plans in place, the way that we want to approach games. Whether that’s different formations or a different approach to the game.
“Ideally I would’ve loved everybody here but I also understand that there is internationals, they have to go away and play games of football. But listen it was a good working week. That’s the most important thing for me.”
Rangers must meet ‘tough’ Dundee challenge ‘head on’
”Every game is a challenge and this is a challenge that I’m looking forward to because, as you know, over the course of the season games away from home haven’t been at the standard which is expected at Rangers. This is going to be a challenge for us on Saturday.
“We all know what Dundee done a couple of Sundays ago. They went across to Tannadice. I thought they were really good. They won the game there pretty convincingly, so I am under no illusions what type of game it’s going to be tomorrow and the players have been told that today, they’ll get told that again tomorrow.
“It’s a challenge as a Rangers player that you need to go and meet head on. That’s exactly what we’re going to do because Dundee are a good team, they’ve got a really good manager, albeit they have been on a bit of a bad run. But as I said they had a brilliant result against Dundee United so we’re expecting a tough one but we’ll be certainly ready for that.
”I wouldn’t say they take care of themselves Old Firm games. You’ve still got to turn up and produce a performance and that’s what my group of players done, and they need to continue to do that.
”It’s going to be the same against Dundee on Saturday. It’s going to be tough as I said. It’s not about playing nice pretty football at times. My group of players need to learn that. Certainly they’re starting to learn it. You’ve seen that in performances over the last two or three weeks.
“Sometimes you need to dig deep to get results. That’s maybe going to happen on Saturday. I would love to go and guarantee everybody that it’s going to be nice, free-flowing attractive football but that’s not the way it is in Scotland.”
Nice guys finish last at Rangers under Barry Ferguson
”I think I’ve changed (the mentality) in the last two or three weeks. It’s my secret (how I’ve done it). It has been a big part of it. I’ve said it. I’m not going to sit here and kid anybody on. I thought we were far too nice and you can’t be nice at Rangers at times.
“As I said, when you step out on that park, every single team want to beat you and you need to stand up to that. Certainly, bar the Motherwell game at home, my group of players are starting to show the standards that are expected.
“There is still a bit of work to go, there’s no doubt. We’re not sitting here and thinking everything’s perfect. It’s far from that but they’re certainly heading the right direction. I’m big on it. Training sessions. You have got to train the way you want to play. That’s in terms of intensity and high standards. And that’s what I set every single day we walk through the doors.”
Barry Ferguson wants players ‘loving every minute’ of being at Rangers
”They are my players. I’m the manager just now. And do you know what? They’re a very good group of players. There’s just a few things that we had to really work on.
“As I said I keep giving them credit and rightly so because they’ve took a lot of things on board. Change is difficult at times and in a short period of time they’ve took a lot on board and they’ve shown me they are more than capable of being here and getting results. We need to continue that.
“We’re not going to rest easy thinking yeah it was a great 10 days, we got into the last eight of Europe, great achievement, no doubt about that. You go across to Celtic Park, everybody’s expecting us to get beat but I had every confidence in them.
“The way that we approached the game. There was going to be a stage in the game that we maybe tired but then that’s my job to go and make changes and we came through that wee sticky period in the second half and we got through it with flying colours.
“They go away, they rest, and they come back and we’ve back to work this week and they now really understand what way we have to approach the rest of the games coming up to the end of the season.
”I’ve always loved football. In terms of football management it came out the blue in terms of taking this job but look I’m loving every single minute of it, I’ve got to be honest with you.
“I wake up in the morning excited to come in here and that’s the way I want my staff to be, that’s the way I want the support staff round about the training centre, and most importantly, that’s the way I want my players.”
Nicolas Raskin has potential to play at ‘highest level’
”He did alright didn’t he? I got asked the question a couple of weeks ago about Nico.
”Nico’s got the potential to play at the highest level but he needs to understand that he’s still got a few things that he has to work on and he has to learn and if he does that then what a chance he’s got. He’s 24. His best years are still in front on him.
“Since I’ve come in he’s been top class for me, but he has to continue that. It’s not a case of going away and playing with his national team, it was great to see him get his first start, I was absolutely delighted but now it’s about bettering that.
“He comes back here, he has to produce those performances for me and I’m sure if he does that he’ll become a regular in the Belgian National team.
”You’ve got to try and learn off (the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne), you’re right. These guys have played at the highest level for many, many years. Also when he comes back here. He’s got a good coaching staff that will keep driving him on and he’s got good players alongside him.
“The key for Nico, he has to understand that it’s not just a case of being happy that he’s made that first appearance. He’s got to have the drive and determination to go and make 50, 60, 70 appearances for his national team but he also has to understand that he needs to produce those performances week in, week out at Rangers.”
Barry Ferguson reacts to UEFA banner punishment
“I seen the statement like everybody. The most important thing for me is that the fans are going to be inside the stadium supporting the team.
“Since I’ve been back the support that I’ve had from the stands has been brilliant. I appreciate it, the staff appreciate it, the players. So the most important thing is we make sure the fans are inside.
“We don’t want to see partial stadium closures or fines. We all get that. I just want to see my supporters getting right behind my team, that’s the most important thing for me.
“(Losing fans) would be (a massive blow) because as I mentioned they’re so important. They drive us on. As I said, since I’ve come through the doors they’ve been a brilliant support for myself and the playing staff. We want to see that continue. There’s no doubt about that.
Later Ferguson added: ”I am manager of the football team and there’s high standards and if anybody dips below they standards then I’m afraid you’re not going to be part of the team.
“In terms of the banners, look the club have made a statement. I think they’ve made it clear. My message is, I just want the fans to make sure they go and they behave themselves because we need them.
”They’ve been a brilliant support. They’ve got right behind us and that’s key, because you need your supporters driving you on.”
Barry Ferguson on ‘watergate’
”The reaction was, he’s excited because his teammate’s just scored what was to be the winning goal. I would have a problem if my players and my staff sat on their seat and never said a word or done anything.
”So I want to see players and staff celebrate. Why do we play football? We play football to win games. When you win games I want to see my players, my staff, celebrate alongside our supporters.
”Yeah sometimes you get a wee big overexcited, I’ve no issues with that. As I said, Vac was just overexcited with his teammate Hamza scoring a goal to get us a three points where we’ve not been able to do that for five years, which is a long, long time.
“I’ll let them deal with that. I’ve had a private chat with Vaclav Cerny. But one thing I’ve made clear to my players and my staff is when we score, we celebrate. After the game, whether it’s Celtic, whether it’s Fenerbahce, whether it’s St Mirren, Dundee, Aberdeen, Hibs, Hearts if that whistle goes and we’ve won three points, I have no issue with going and celebrating with your fans.
”These guys pay a fortune to travel everywhere and come and support us. I want to see a bit of passion, not just from the stands, but from my players.“
Barry Ferguson on Vaclav Cerny’s Rangers future
”I can only talk since I’ve been here as manager and he’s been outstanding for me. I’ve asked him to do things that maybe previously it’s not been a part of his game and I’m talking about the dirty side of the game, when we’ve not got the ball he has to be a real teammate and work hard for his team and that’s something he’s produced.
“I mean we all know his quality going forward in the final third. I call these sorts of players difference-makers and that was Vac is, he’s a difference maker. But what I’ve loved from him is his work without the ball and it’s been excellent and it’s something that I said to him, if he adds that to his game then he’s going to be even better than what he is.
“But in terms of him staying here long term. I’ve not really spoke to him about it, if I’m being honest with you. I would love to see a player of that quality remain here but I would hazard a guess that there’s going to be a lot of clubs interested in him.
”Should Rangers be paying (big money)? Well he’s a player that I would love to see staying here. Whether that will happen or not, I’ve not had any talks. All I’m concerned (with) is that I get him out on the pitch and I get him playing really well for myself.
“In terms of fees and in terms of Vac going back in the summer, I think you’ll maybe see something happen over the next couple of months. But I can only speak on how he’s performed since I’ve took over the job. He’s been immense for me and I want to see that continue obviously.”
Barry Ferguson on Rangers manager future
”You’re trying to get things out me. (Discussions over transfers) remain private, you’ve got to respect that. My focus is on winning games of football right now. I’m not focusing on my future, other player’s futures, whether they’re on loan or they’re out of contract.
“I need to make sure that I’ve got a team that’s going to be going out on the pitch certainly come Saturday at 5:30 at Dundee and making sure we’re coming back down the road with three points, that’s the things that I need to focus on.
“You’re trying your best and I respect that you’re trying. But I’ve got to be honest with you, I’m not even thinking further ahead than the last day of the season. Seriously.
“I have been brought in and do a job and that was to try and get and results. If I look at the period of games that I’ve been in I think it’s been OK, decent. It needs to be better and that’s my aim over the next couple of months, making sure we consistently start to get results.
“There’s no use going and doing what we’ve done previous to the international break, that 10 days. Great getting the club into the last eight, great going to Celtic Park and beating your fiercest rivals but that’s in the past now.
“My focus is now going up to places like Dens Park, where we’ve struggled the last couple of games and making sure we’re getting three points because it’s going to be difficult.
”I’m trying to say to people that I’m pretty calm now. In terms of (his approach to the players), we were a good football team but it takes more at Rangers. You need more than just a good football team.
“What we say in the dressing rooms and in the meeting rooms will remain private but what I need to see is a different side to them and they’re starting to show that. Slowly but surely they’re starting to get to the place where I want us to be but we’re still not there yet. There’s still a lot of work to be done.
“(Being a manager) is a lot busier if I’m being honest with you. There’s a lot more than just the players and the staff, you’ve got to do a lot more outwith that. But do you know what? I’m loving it.
“I’m looking forward to coming into work every morning. That’s important to me. It’s important to me as a manager seeing my players coming in and smiling and looking forward to training. Once the whistle goes, it’s work. It’s hard work. It’s hard graft. It’s everything that I thought it would be. A few more hours than I’m normally used to but I’m enjoying it. I’m going to just embrace the challenge.
“I’m going to go and give it everything I’ve got, along with my staff and the important thing is when I came in I was wanting to drag my players that way and they’re starting to come beside us and understand what it is to play for this club.”
Leave a Reply