Bill Leckie blown away by Rangers ‘show-stealer’ v Bilbao amid Mourinho theory
Jose Mourinho has become a topic of discussion at Rangers again after their dramatic 0-0 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.
Rangers ended an abysmal run of five consecutive defeats at Ibrox to hold Bilbao to a stalemate in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie on 10 April.
The Bears fought against the odds to keep themselves alive in the tie after Robin Propper was sent off just 13 minutes into the game and the La Liga club were later awarded a penalty, which was saved by Liam Kelly.
Bailey Rice was stretchered off in worrying scenes in Glasgow, but Barry Ferguson and Co. now go to Spain next Thursday (17 April) with a chance of qualifying for the semi-final.
Bill Leckie sheds light on Jose Mourinho theory
The way the drama unfolded at Ibrox has led Bill Leckie to recall what Jose Mourinho said after it was confirmed that Rangers will face Bilbao in the quarter-final.
In a thinly-veiled comment, the Fenerbahce boss suggested that UEFA would push hard to ensure Bilbao reach the final, which is scheduled at their stadium, San Mames.
However, the journalist pointed out how Mourinho’s ‘conspiracy theory’ did not consider the possibility of an unlikely hero stepping up for the Gers in the shape of Kelly.
| Saves | Saved penalties | Goals prevented | Accurate passes | Accurate long balls | High claim |
| 3 | 1 | 1.75 | 13/35 | 6/28 | 3 |
Blown away by the goalkeeper’s performance, he described him as Rangers’ show-stealer and highlighted his best moments, including the first-half save to deny Marouan Sannadi.
Leckie went on to claim that Kelly’s penalty save towards the end of the game will go down in the history books at Ibrox.
“Then again, his [Mourinho’s] conspiracy theory didn’t take one wonderful element of football into consideration – the ability of the unlikeliest player to steal the show”, Leckie wrote in his column on the Sun website (10 April).
“Step forward Liam Kelly, drafted in because of Butland’s collapse in form, to play his first European tie since Motherwell were embarrassed by Sligo Rovers in July 2022.
“His flying first-half tip over from Marouan Sannadi was crucial. The way he clutched Oihan Sancet’s powerful header from the corner that followed spread confidence right through the stadium.
“His stop from [Alejandro] Berenguer’s spot kick, diving right and flicking up a leg to send the ball over the bar?
“It will go down in legend. And who knows, maybe so will next week.”
Kelly ousts Jack Butland at Rangers
Ferguson kept his promise that he would make big calls after Rangers’ embarrassing 2-0 loss against Hibernian at Ibrox last Saturday (5 April), putting Kelly in goal instead of Jack Butland.
It is now hard to see Butland come back into the starting line-up, with Kelly staking his claim to be the Gers’ number one for the rest of the season.
This may also signal the end of Butland’s career in Glasgow, as he could be a part of the 49ers’ summer clearout at the end of the season.