Michael Beale Praises Rangers’ Character After Hard-Fought Draw Against Hearts

The reward for Rangers’ fast-tracking themselves into the last-16 of the Europa League is a potential meeting with Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.

That’s if you can call it a ‘reward’.

His stock might have fallen in recent years but a European knock-out tie against Jose Mourinho? Rangers have claimed some pretty impressive continental scalps over the years but outwitting the godfather of all cup specialists could be perhaps the biggest challenge the Glasgow giants have faced yet on their European sojourns.

This is, after all, a man who masterminded two Champions League triumphs. Add in the Europa Leagues/UEFA Cups he picked up with Manchester United and Porto – plus the Conference League he won with AS Roma – and the under-fire Philippe Clement may have to find a way past a coach with five continental trophies on a CV with more silverware than a Royal Family garden party.

It was confirmed on Thursday night that Rangers will face either Fenerbahce or Bodo/Glimt in the last-16 next month.

Bodo/Glimt hammered FC Twente in their play-off tie, while a hard-fought draw at Anderlecht was enough to secure Fenerbahce’s progress following a thumping 3-0 home leg victory in Turkey.

Jose Mourinho confirms ‘big absence’ for Fenerbahce amid potential Rangers clash

Mourinho’s hopes of adding a sixth European title to his collection will not be aided, however, by the loss of one of his star players to suspension.

Fred, the former Manchester United stalwart and Brazil international, picked up a costly yellow card during that 2-2 draw in Belgium. As a result, a man with four goals and seven assists from midfield this season will be unavailable for the first-leg of that potential Rangers clash, presuming Clement is pitched against Mourinho in Friday’s 12pm draw.

“Fred will be a big absence for us,” Mourinho admits. “[But] we have time to think about that.”