Rangers: Liverpool admission made by pundit after recent Ibrox disappointment
Barry Ferguson believes that Rangers were unlikely to win the Europa League ahead of Liverpool or Bayer Leverkusen.
In his view, getting knocked out of the Europa League at Ibrox against Benfica was a blessing in disguise.
It gives them the chance to focus on other trophies and perhaps beating Celtic to the league title.
He told the Daily Record on 16 March: “If I’m being honest, Rangers were unlikely to win the competition when the likes of Liverpool and Leverkusen were in Friday’s draw for the last eight. One of them is sitting at the top of England’s top flight and the other is storming towards the Bundesliga title in Germany.
“So right now I actually think Clement and his players may have been spared from going through a similar situation. They weren’t ready to win the Europa League – but they may have burned themselves out just by trying. Yes, it hurts.
“With the likes of Todd Cantwell, Kemar Roofe and Rabbi Matondo now back out of the treatment room – and Abdallah Sima not too far away from joining them – the squad is finally starting to look a bit healthier.”
Rangers have what it takes to beat Celtic to the title
While Gers’ exit from the Europa League may sting, it’s far from the end of the world for the club.
Ferguson’s reflections highlight the physical and emotional toll that lengthy European campaigns can take on a team.
Clement’s side now have the opportunity to focus solely on domestic competitions, with a Scottish Premiership title within reach and a Scottish Cup semi-final to come.
The absence of European distractions could actually benefit the team, allowing them to conserve energy and minimise the risk of injuries as they pursue a domestic treble.
With key players returning from injury and a relatively healthy squad, they are well positioned to maintain their lead in the league and make a strong push in the Scottish Cup.
The disappointment of the Europa League exit may serve as motivation for the Ibrox outfit to redouble their efforts in domestic competitions, making the prospect of a treble still very much achievable.
In other Rangers news, a major shake-up has been mooted by Gers and Celtic after what happened recently in the transfer market.
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