Barry Ferguson backs Rangers to reach Europa League semi-finals
Barry Ferguson believes defeat to Braga wasn’t the worst thing for Rangers and has backed them to make the Europa League semi-finals this week.
The Bears suffered a 1-0 loss in Portugal in the first leg, with Leon Balogun’s error allowing Abel Ruiz to score the only goal of the game.
But Ferguson, writing in his Daily Record column, believes it was his former side that finished stronger and with ‘one of Europe’s most hostile environments’ behind them, they should be able to overcome the deficit at Ibrox and progress.
“Braga have a young squad and they’re now going to get a real education in what it’s like to face one of Europe’s most hostile environments,” he said.
“The Govan crowd have already helped their team blow away Borussia Dortmund and Red Star Belgrade and I really do think Braga will be next.
“Carvalhal was at Ibrox last week for the Old Firm game so he will know what is coming.
“But knowing what’s about to hit you and being able to deal with it are two different things and Ibrox can be a special place on these European nights under the lights with 50,000 punters going nuts.
“Braga found that out to their cost last time out and if the Rangers support can put on a show like they did back in 2020, I see no reason why Rangers won’t be roaring into the semis.”
Key ingredient
The Rangers fans will be right up for the task of pushing their side over the line next week in the Europa League, and that’s a key ingredient to their success.
We’ve seen Dortmund come to Ibrox and crumble, while Red Star couldn’t cope with the atmosphere either as they collapsed to defeat.
Braga are the youngest side in the competition and while they played well in the first leg, Rangers showed enough to feel confident that they can earn victory in the second leg and progress to the next round.
Without Alfredo Morelos they have struggled for goals and attacking fluidity, but the manager must find a way to be able to get the best from his squad and create dangerous situations.
Despite defeat, confidence is still high that Rangers can qualify for the semi-finals and Ferguson is echoing that. Now the players have to deliver on the pitch.
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