Barry Ferguson: Bilbao are Europa League favourites - but we’re ready for the fight

Via Wikimedia Commons

Rangers interim boss Barry Ferguson has claimed that Europa League quarter-final opponents Athletic Bilbao are “the favourites for the competition”.

Ferguson was asked for his thoughts on the Spanish side during his press conference at Ibrox yesterday afternoon, where he addressed questions from the Spanish media.

Despite acknowledging the challenge ahead, Ferguson said he and his players are looking forward to the occasion.

“These are the games you want to be involved in - you want to go and pit yourself against some of the best.

“I think they've got real quality in their team.”

He added that he's been using the magnitude of the match to motivate his squad in training.

“This is what being a footballer is all about - these big nights at Ibrox, the fans coming in to support you, playing under the floodlights. It can't get any better.”

When asked about specific threats, Ferguson highlighted Bilbao’s attacking power:

“They’ve got quality all over the team—certainly in the wide areas. You've got the two Williams brothers, and they're going to be a real handful.

“I look at a very good technical midfield that is hard-working, and they’re defensively solid.

“The team knows, as a group of players, that we have to be at the top of our game to try and get a result.”

Ferguson also suggested that Athletic Bilbao represent a “step up” from Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe, who Rangers eliminated on penalties in the previous round.

Can Rangers raise their game and turn around their poor home form on the big stage? Only time will tell, but Ferguson and his side can’t afford any more mistakes, or their season could be over.