Rangers boss Barry Ferguson previews their UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg v Athletic Bilbao
Bilbao, Spain
Courtesy of UEFA
Bilbao, Spain
Courtesy of UEFA
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00.
00:35Barry, exciting night in Prospect tomorrow.
00:40Just trying to work out your team news.
00:42How are the guys looking in that regard?
00:45Good news.
00:47We on Malaghan trained today.
00:50Cherny trained, Fairley Rice in Redfang.
00:54So that's good news for us.
00:56Sorry.
00:57You want to start again?
00:59No.
01:00One more time.
01:01Sorry, Barry.
01:02Thanks.
01:03So you've got good news.
01:04Yeah, it's good news.
01:05Leon Balaghan trained, Redvan trained, Cherny trained and Bayley Rice trained.
01:11So hopefully when they wake up tomorrow, there's been no issues.
01:16And as I said, hopefully we're going to be strong.
01:20Also, we've got John Suter back and Deal Mandy as well.
01:23So things are looking pretty healthy.
01:25But as I said, I just need to wait until tomorrow morning.
01:28Speak to the medical staff and hopefully I get the thumbs up.
01:32Great news with regards to Bayley Rice because it looked like a bad one last week.
01:35So you'll be glad to have him available for this one.
01:37Is there a real excitement around the squad coming to this city and the stadium and this huge match?
01:46Yeah, well, you're in the quarterfinal and you've got a brilliant opportunity.
01:51I think the game's wide open, as I've mentioned after last Thursday's game.
01:56So, yep, spoke with the players today.
01:59These are the games you want to be involved in as a football player and also as a manager.
02:05So we're looking forward to it.
02:06But we also understand that we're up against a very good team who have got a very good home record.
02:11So we will need to be really prepared.
02:15We've worked pretty hard over the last couple of days.
02:18So we're obviously looking forward to the game now.
02:22Barry, you can go back to 2008, Fiorentina, Manchester and what have you.
02:28Is it the same sort of application and attitude you'll need to get through tomorrow night?
02:33Yeah, well, same work ethic that team I played in.
02:36We're very workmanlike.
02:38That's what I want to see from my team, but also we've got good footballers.
02:41So when we have the ball, certainly in a ground like this or a stadium like this, should I say,
02:47you need to be able to keep it.
02:49So we've spoke about that as well because we need to defend because they're a very attack-minded team.
02:55But also when we, as I said, when we gain possession of the ball, we need to be better.
02:59And that's something that we've obviously spoke about and we've worked on.
03:04Yeah, obviously you had ten men for most of the game in the first leg.
03:08What do you need in the second leg to get through against Athletic?
03:12To keep a living on the pitch.
03:14Also it happened on Sunday in the game against Aberdeen.
03:20So we need to make sure we keep our living men on the pitch.
03:24And if we do that, I think we'll have a good opportunity.
03:26But again, I'll go back to it.
03:28I'm always respectful of the opponent and the manager I come up against.
03:31Again, over the last three days since the Aberdeen game, we've again watched them closely.
03:38We know their qualities, we know their strengths.
03:41But also we've got to know their weaknesses at times.
03:44So that's something that we've worked on over the last couple of days and hopefully we can get through them.
03:49Barry, what is it about this team of yours in Europe when your domestic form hasn't been great?
03:54Why do you think they managed to find something on the big occasion?
03:58I've been asking myself that for the last six weeks that I've been in.
04:02Certainly in the Europa League, the form has been very, very consistent.
04:08Obviously domestically, it has been an issue.
04:11There's no doubt about that.
04:13And that's something myself as a manager and my coaching staff and alongside the players we've been trying to work hard at.
04:20But we need to continue the form we've shown in the Europa League.
04:24And if we do that, I think we'll have a real good opportunity to hopefully progress into the semi-final.
04:29You played in some huge European games for the club.
04:32You're now in the dugout.
04:34Does it still have that same feel to it, the sense of occasion?
04:37Yeah, listen, you want to play, there's no doubt, but the days are well over for me.
04:46And the next best thing is being a manager.
04:49I never thought this opportunity would have happened.
04:52As I said, I'm loving every single minute of it.
04:55It's a bit different from what I'm used to.
04:57But I'm really enjoying my time and I'm looking forward to it.
05:01I said to my players, you've got to look forward to these occasions, you've got to embrace these occasions.
05:06And that's certainly something that I'm hopeful they'll do.
05:09And I'm going to do the same.
05:11Barry, the Spanish journalists this afternoon were asking your counterpart a lot about the fact that you went down to ten men so early.
05:19And that they maybe wouldn't know what to expect.
05:22Do you see that in hindsight and how the game panned out?
05:25Do you see that as an advantage for you going into this one?
05:28Well, last Thursday, again, before the game, as you do as a manager and a coaching staff, you work on things that we wanted to do during the game.
05:36And that kind of went out the window once Robin gets sent off.
05:40And then you have to totally change the way that you have to approach it with two banks of four really deep and surrender so much possession.
05:49So hopefully tomorrow night it will be different in terms of we keep 11 men on the pitch.
05:54But we've got a game plan.
05:56The players fully understand that.
05:58As I said, we had a day off after the Aberdeen game, Tuesday and Wednesday.
06:02We've obviously worked really hard on what way we have to approach it if we want to try and get into the semi-final.
06:09Barry, you've got the possibility to be the man to lead Rangers to a European semi-final.
06:15Where would that rank for you in terms of all that you've achieved for Rangers?
06:19Good question.
06:21Obviously, it would rank right up there.
06:24Because as I said six weeks ago, I wouldn't imagine I would have been in this position standing at the sideline as manager of Glasgow Rangers.
06:31So, yeah, it would rank up there with what I've done in football as a player.
06:37There's no doubt in my mind about that.
06:39But it's not about me.
06:40I've always said that.
06:41It's about my group of players going and showing their qualities at the highest level.
06:47And this is a high level game for us.
06:49And I'm confident that they'll go and show that tomorrow night.
06:54Good afternoon.
06:55Good afternoon.
06:56Welcome to Bilbao.
06:57Javier Ortiz de Lazcano, del Correo de Bilbao.
07:02On the evening of the game, he said in Glasgow that the Atleti was the best team in the competition
07:08and the favorite to win.
07:09Are you still thinking about it?
07:12Yes, my opinion has not changed.
07:17I think they're favorites for the competition.
07:20I think they've got some top-level players alongside a top-level manager.
07:27So, my opinion hasn't changed on Athletic Club.
07:32Barry, you had a big decision to make in goals last week.
07:35I just wonder if Hamza's performance at the weekend gives you a good headache,
07:39a big decision to make at No. 9 tomorrow as well?
07:41I've always got big decisions to make.
07:43Hamza's done well, but I think Hamza can do a lot more still.
07:50I'm very demanding on that side of his game.
07:54There's no doubt Hamza's got so much quality.
07:58Technically, he's so gifted, but he needs to add other things to his game.
08:04And that's something that we've been working hard on.
08:09But in terms of the team selection tomorrow, as I said, I've went with a team.
08:13I already know my team.
08:14The players already know the team.
08:16And I've picked a team that's hopefully going to go and progress into the semi-final.
08:20Barry, I'm just wondering what you're like before games like this in the dressing room.
08:24Are you big on last-minute speeches, rousing messages to the players?
08:28What have you got in your head of what you're going to say to the players before they get out?
08:32Yeah, a bit of both.
08:36I don't like to say too much in the lead-up.
08:38I allow my coaches to do a bit of that.
08:41I obviously have the final decision and say certain things.
08:45But certainly before the game, before they step out on the pitch, I certainly have a couple of minutes with them.
08:52And you can imagine what has been said.
08:55Maybe at the start it was a bit strange for them.
08:59But now they're starting to get used to what I'm like just before a game.
09:04Because listen, every game I enter I want to win.
09:06And I want my players to be like that.
09:09I'm just wondering as well, D4C, could it be a long night?
09:12Could it potentially in your mind go all the way?
09:14And have you been practicing penalties?
09:16Yeah, that's a high possibility.
09:19But my players showed that they can do that against Fernabache.
09:24They can go right to the end.
09:26There's no doubt about that.
09:28In terms of practicing penalties, I leave that up to the players.
09:31Some stay out and do things like that.
09:34But ideally, I don't want it to go to penalties at an extra time.
09:38I may have to, but we're well prepared for that.
09:42Barry, you spoke about the workman-like qualities of your team that went all the way to Manchester.
09:47I'm just thinking, in that run you had to go away from home and set on legs a lot of time to get the results that got you through.
09:52Can you just talk through what was required in those situations?
09:56It's going to be similar to tomorrow night when the pressure on you and everything with the crowd all going against you.
10:02What was required in those scenarios?
10:04A lot of discipline.
10:07The way that we're going to set up and play tomorrow night, it only takes one member of the team to switch off.
10:15And if that happens, they're going to hurt us.
10:19So it's important that we're switched on every single second of the game.
10:24And that's something that we're big on.
10:27I'm certainly big on as a manager, so are the coaching staff.
10:30And certainly the players understand that.
10:32Because you've got your roles and responsibilities with and without the ball.
10:36So sometimes, tomorrow night, we're going to be without the ball.
10:43So we need to be set up really strong.
10:46And again, that's something that we've worked on over the last couple of days.
10:51Can you just give us a word on how important it is having John Suter back?
10:54We saw in Istanbul, the quality of his performance, the bravery of his performance last night.
10:58Just how encouraged are you having him back available?
11:02Yeah, but look, Suits is a big player.
11:06He's a player that I've always rated and admired.
11:11And certainly when you get to work with him, day in, day out, you see how good he really is.
11:17And I think as he's getting more mature as a centre back, I think he's getting better.
11:22He's one of the leaders in the team, so having John back from suspension obviously is a big help to us.
11:30Last question, please.
11:33Hi Barry, do you think you can tap into the pressure around here for Bill Barr?
11:38Because the final is going to be here, they've got the home crowd.
11:41Is that something you've spoken to the players about?
11:43Look, the players understand the final is going to be here.
11:47And I would reckon that the players will be desperate to get to the final.
11:52But we are in front of them.
11:54We need to go and show that we are desperate to get to a final.
11:59But we've got a big 90 minutes or a big 30 minutes in extra time and it could get into penalties.
12:05But we are fully prepared and we understand that obviously they're going to come at us.
12:10There is no doubt about that.
12:11But we are going to be prepared for that.
12:14All right.
12:15Cheers guys.
12:16Cheers.
12:17Cheers.
12:18Cheers.
12:19Cheers.
12:24Cheers.
12:25See you later.
12:36James, there's a buzz around the camp coming into this one.
13:03Yes, quarter-final, second leg, all to be played for. We did a really good job with ten men or even nine men towards the end of the first leg, limiting their chances. It's a great opportunity for the team to get to a semi-final.
13:30You've been here before at this stage. How much of the experience against Braga as it was three years ago can you take from that into this?
13:39Yes, it's really important that we all play together as a team. I think that's what got us to the final last time as a unit, as a whole team, playing together and just really working hard for one another.
13:51Working hard for one another. I think that's key for tomorrow, doing the same like we did in the first leg, working really hard for one another. Limit their chances.
14:00And just trying to obviously keep 11 on the pitch and create chances in score.
14:05A lot of talk from the Spanish guys beforehand was about the pressure of the home side of feeling obviously with the final and whatnot.
14:14How do you view that personally? Obviously you'll have your own internal pressures as well obviously, but is there something that you can use within the crowd or nervousness or whatnot that you can actually use that to your advantage, never mind the home side?
14:26You always want to try to unsettle home fans when you play away. You want to frustrate the opposition, you want to frustrate the home fans and try to maybe cause errors within the game.
14:41Look, these are one of the favourites for the competitions and we're obviously big underdogs coming into this game, but we're really going to relish this challenge and really be on the front foot and take the game to them because it's a beautiful stadium.
14:58Just walking around it now and there'll be something that we obviously want to try and come back to for the final.
15:04Just talking about the final, obviously you reached a few years ago, how often do you still think about that night, the regrets of that night?
15:11With the waters of that night and how much is there a desire within you to have another crack at it and this time get over the line with it?
15:18Yeah, I've still never watched a replay of the game, so yeah, I think when I eventually hang my boots up I'll revisit it, but it was obviously a hard one because it was penalty shootout, that's the one that really hurts.
15:32But to have that experience going nowhere through the rounds and to get to the final, it was once in a lifetime, but obviously we have a really good chance at this stage of the season.
15:48We know we've got a tough opposition tomorrow, the talent that they've got throughout the team, but anything's doable as long as we all stick together and really push for it.
15:58You say once in a lifetime, but there's an opportunity if you're here to do it twice, you must feel like there's a second chance here to do something special.
16:07Yeah, we're in the driving seat, it's everyone's game tomorrow, so that's what we'll look, we'll look to leave everything out on that pitch with no regrets and anyone who's asked to come on the pitch if they're not in the starting XI, yeah, give it their all.
16:22And that's what we'll be doing, especially with all the travelling fans coming to support us and the fans back at home.
16:27We obviously want to give them a night that they can remember as well.
16:31James, as you sit here now, what is it that gives you the belief that you can go away this year?
16:35We obviously look at the opposition that we've played so far and the games leading up to this stage.
16:42If you look at the teams that qualified, we played the majority of the teams getting through that.
16:48So, we believe that we can play anyone on our day and we will always believe that we can go toe-to-toe with teams.
16:56You know, European competition has always been good for us, so, yeah, we've got great belief in that changing room.
17:03We know what we have to do, we always have to be alert tomorrow, always concentrated.
17:09We know we're going to have to suffer as well as a team without the ball, but, yeah, we're really looking forward to doing that and hopefully we can catch them on the counters.
17:17You yourself have been playing a number of positions this season and this run.
17:21How do you feel about that and where do you prefer playing and how do you feel about the whole thing in terms of where you play in the team?
17:26Wherever the manager, the team needs me to play, I'll play anywhere to help the team.
17:31You know, I've found it really comfortable moving the positions, you know, back into the right side of centre-back, into centre-back, into right-wing-back, into right-back.
17:42All familiar positions that I played when I was younger, so I'm really comfortable and, like I said, I'm just here to do a job for the team and help the team and the club the best way I can.
17:54You mentioned the experience of the previous run. Is that something you've found quite valuable over this run and the experience of that? Have you been able to pass that on to some of the players who weren't there for it?
18:04I haven't in ways because as you've looked through the competition this season, the lads have really stood up to the challenge against other teams and we've really stuck together in games where, you know, I've not had to say much.
18:21The boys have really, you know, taken it upon themselves to be professional, to be mature the way they play and, you know, it was a credit to the team the last game where we played with ten men, you know, have to suffer without the ball then going down to nine men towards the late stages of the game and Liam saving the penalty.
18:38So, the team have really, you know, thrived under these conditions, so, but it's, I'll obviously put small reminders that we'll obviously have to stick together as a team and I think the boys know that.
18:49You mentioned there as well, James, about being in the driving seat. What is it that makes you say that coming into the second leg, you feel as though you've got a kind of advantage coming here?
18:57Well, it's all in our hands, isn't it? You know, you were against 11 opposition and it's in our hands to win the game, to give them a difficult night.
19:07So, we only can control our own destiny and that's the main thing. So, we have to be all fully committed, really, really aggressive tomorrow.
19:16You know, like I said, that we'll have to suffer, but suffer together as a team and then attack together as a team.
19:23So, yeah, when I say the driving seat, that's what I meant by that. We can only control our outcomes and what we do.
19:31OK, guys, any more? Happy?
19:34Oh, nice. Thank you. Thank you.
19:36Thank you. Thank you.
19:38Thanks everyone.