Rangers

Calum Macdonald
BBC Sport Scotland

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Midfielder Connor Barron has urged Rangers to learn lessons from their dismal Europa League campaign.

The Ibrox side are all but out with two games to spare after going down 2-1 at Ferencvaros, a fifth defeat in six that leaves them 33rd in the 36-team table with one point.

Danny Rohl's men went ahead through an acrobatic Bojan Miovski strike in Budapest, but were pegged back by Bence Otvos before Barnabas Varga headed a second-half winner for the Hungarians.

"When we started the campaign we obviously wanted to continue on from last season and we haven't hit the heights of that at all," Barron said.

"So it's really disappointing. It was a real tough test [in Budapest], I thought the first half we started well, we got into dangerous areas, worked hard, the goal just came at the wrong time for us at half-time.

"In the second half we just didn't get up to the heights we wanted to.

"The European stuff hasn't been good enough, but I think in the league we've been really strong and it's important we carry that on against Hibs [on Monday night]

"I think you've got to be disappointed, you've got to take it in, you've got to learn from it, it's important that you do feel that."

We asked for your views on Rangers' 2-1 defeat against Ferencvaros in the Europa League.

Here's what some of you said:

Sally: Danny Rohl has my sympathy. This performance from Rangers lacked in defence and striking ability. James Tavernier has been a great player and servant to the club but his reign is over. Nicolas Raskin could and should be the new captain, he leads by example. Scottish football teams in general are totally ineffective in Europe. We lack the skill, control, passing and tactics required. Looking on the positive side, the league and Scottish Cup are not out of reach. Belief required.

Derek: Another disappointing night, I think we need a new back five! Ball distribution worse than school boys. Tav has been an asset, now he is past his best. Youssef Chermiti is a waste of a shirt. Russell Martin and co have destroyed our team, wasted most of the £20million net spend.

Gerry: A comedy of errors, that about sums up another woeful defensive performance. If these owners have any aspirations to make us successful again they'll need to dip into their pockets in January and beyond, we're not competitive against lesser opposition at home or in Europe. One half decent result in the past four games is simply not good enough given the standards this club have set in the past. If these players are not stepping up to the mark why not go to the fringe or academy players? They can't be any worse and maybe might just surprise a few people.

Ian: Rangers were not even bang average in the Europa League, Rohl is way out of his depth if he thinks rolling out the same players week in week out works. If there's any transfer requests for any of the players out there Rangers should be grateful and let them go, only Jack Butland, Raskin and Findlay Curtis were worth keeping.

Alexander: One of the poorest Rangers teams that I've watched in my life and I'm 66. I think they're playing like a mid-table team at the moment and I believe the European results back that up. Lots of money spent on poor players, I don't know where we go from here!

Ronnie: If Hearts don't win the title this season they never will, the weakest Old Firm in my lifetime. Rangers were not that bad last night. If we had got to half time with our lead we may well have won the match. Emmanuel Fernandez is not a defender and Chermiti is not a centre forward. Curtis must now be given a starting position alongside Mikey Moore. Raskin and Connor Barron worked their socks off. January window will be massive.

Villarreal have shown strong interest in Rangers winger Djeidi Gassama, but the Spaniards are just one of several important club to be eyeing the 23-year-old Frenchman. (Rudy Galetti on Substack), external

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has refused to be drawn on reports linking Djeidi Gassama, who only signed for the Ibrox club from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer, with a move to Villareal in January. (The Herald), external

Rangers are "extremely reluctant" to lose Nicolas Raskin in the middle of the campaign but could be left with no choice if Tottenham Hotspur firm up their interest with a concrete offer in January for the 24-year-old Belgium midfielder. (Football Insider), external

Besiktas have made contact with Rangers about signing Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin in January. (Yeni Acik on YouTube), external

Rangers have opened talks with academy midfielder Kyle Glasgow over a first professional contract, but they face stiff competition with interest from England, Italy, Portugal and Germany all monitoring the progress of the 15-year-old who has been called up by Portugal Under-16s. (Daily Record), external

At £3.3m, Celtic striker Kelechi Iheanacho is the most valuable of the top 30 players based in Scotland who are due to be free agents this summer, with Rangers centre-half John Souttar second at £3.1m and Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson third at £1.6m. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Rangers are all-but out of the Europa League after unbeaten Ferencvaros came from behind in Budapest to inflict a fifth defeat in six matches on the Ibrox outfit.

Read the match report

Have your say

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "Honestly, I'm very angry about our conceded goals. This is the disappointment for me. We played a solid first half, go in the lead - exactly what you want. Go in with a lead and they have to open more and more. Then the first conceded goal.

"Second half, we missed so many transition moments, and the second goal is too easy.

"These are the parts at the moment where we are not clinical enough. For the second game in the row in this competition, I see a team who is competitive and a team in a process forward, but I see a team, especially in this competition, to destroy the hard work in two, three situations.

"To take something you have to be sharp for 90 minutes, 95 minutes in every duel. The chance was on today to win this game.

"I am angry about two or three mistakes, this is hard to take.

"From tomorrow we have to focus on big games in the league.

"What happens in the next two games is not a topic for me today. We will see what happens in this competition.

"All in all, Manny [Fernandez] and Nasser [Djiga], I see big steps forward. I am more angry about how we have our position for the long ball. I will never blame one player for one action.

"We have to be angry today. A big topic was game management and today in two, three moments, it was not right. This is what we have to learn.

"Bojan [Miovski] got a kick, but it could be a bit more."

Calum Macdonald
BBC Sport Scotland in Budapest

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Max Aarons is "loving it" at Rangers under Danny Rohl and open to extending his stay.

The full-back, who was brought to Ibrox on a season-long loan from Bournemouth by former boss Russell Martin, struggled early in the campaign and didn't feature for a month after being sent off in the 6-0 Champions League qualifying drubbing by Club Brugge.

But Aarons, 25, has been given a chance under Rohl and has started three of the past four games.

"For sure," the defender said when asked about the prospect of staying in Glasgow.

"Playing for this club and playing at Ibrox are amazing experiences and what you want to be playing in as a player.

"The start was disappointing, but since the new manger has come in it's been great, I feel really confident."

"In terms of how I feel here, I'm loving it."

Aarons says Rangers will need a "big performance" if they are to claim a Europa League lifeline with victory away to Ferencvaros tonight.

Danny Rohl's side are 33rd in the 36-team Europa League table with one point from five games and will need to win their three remaining matches to have a chance of progression.

"Every game is a must win," Aarons said.

"We need a good performance and to win most of all.

"We need a big performance, to take in bits from the game on Saturday, players getting confidence.

"Bojan Miovski and Mikey Moore playing well and scoring, that's going to be big for us, we will need to be solid defensively but also want to create."

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Former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson says Rangers will need to shore up defensively if they have any hope of victory against Ferencvaros in Budapest.

Danny Rohl's side have just one point from their five matches and need a win to revive their slender qualification hopes.

Ferencvaros are sixth in the table with 11 points from five games.

"The biggest thing is going to be the defensive aspect," Neilson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"That's something Rangers have struggled with domestically and when you step up a level and go into European competitions you get punished.

"Ferencvaros are a really solid, experienced team with a couple of really good strikers, Barnabas Varga, in particular, who is the top goalscorer for them. If you give these guys one chance they will score goals.

"Can Rangers solidify the defence a bit more and make it a bit more difficult to score?"

Rohl has shored things up domestically since his arrival and is yet to lose a league game.

After three successive draws in all competitions, Rangers were ruthless in winning 3-0 at Kilmarnock last weekend and Neilson believes that victory will give the team a lift.

"Confidence is up within the group," he added.

"Getting the result against Kilmarnock recently, although I don't think the performance was fantastic.

"Tonight will be a tough game in a tough environment, European games are hard, but where Rangers are at the moment, 33rd in the table, it's going to be very difficult to qualify from that.

"This is a game they can go and try to get some more positivity from."

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• Since the start of last season, Ferencvaros' Barnabas Varga has scored more Europa League goals than any other player (nine) and no player has scored more headed goals (three).

• Rangers have lost their past four away matches in all European competitions, conceding 13 goals. They've not lost five in a row since between November 1983 and October 1986.

• Ferencvaros have won five of their past six home Europa League matches (D1), as many as they had in their previous 23 home major European games (W5 D9 L9).

• Hungarian teams have lost five of their past six major European encounters with Scottish clubs, the exception a win for Ferencvaros against Hearts in December 2004 in the Uefa Cup.

• Ferencvaros and Rangers haven't met since the 1960-61 Cup Winners' Cup first round – the Ibrox side progressed 5-4 on aggregate.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator in Budapest

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Thursday's Europa League game at Ferencvaros.

Here are the main points:

• Rohl says Bojan Miovski will take great confidence from his weekend double: "If a striker scores two times, I think it helps a lot for the confidence. I am always looking for a striker who can score. I think this is very important. Sometimes it goes easier. Sometimes you have to work hard."

• On defender John Souttar, who is reportedly in talks over a new deal, Rohl says he is a "core" player and it is crucial to build the team around such leaders.

• While experience is key, Rohl is seeking a "balance" to his squad, saying: "I think if you take just Mikey Moore, this is an exciting young player. But around these young players it's good to have players who understand what it means."

• The 3-0 victory at Kilmarnock wasn't perfect but there are positive signs, according to Rohl, who says: "When you see the clips now as well as the games, then you see more and more phases where it goes in the right direction. Even I know in the development you will have always some small setbacks. This is what we have to try, to make them smaller and smaller. And pick up the best of both worlds."

• Dujon Sterling - described by Rohl as a "special guy" - is set to get his first game-time of the season on Thursday after long-term injury.

• The German adds: "But it's also important that his body is ready. I think this is at the moment a question mark. But after such a long injury without a game, then you know the first games are a little bit rusty. This is important that we get him as soon as possible in a good shape, that he can go 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes."

• Rohl is baffled by so many recent muscle injuries, the latest to Nedim Bajrami, whose damage suffered against Kilmarnock last weekend may be more serious than first thought.

• "Five weeks ago we had no injuries," says the Ibrox boss, who adds: "There are injuries that we have to deal with and it doesn't help to play as many matches. Obviously the international players are also exhausted. Regardless of this we will do everything."

• With Rangers 33rd on one point in the 36-team table, Rohl was asked if he believes they can still qualify. "I always believe that we can do something. It's important to know where we are at the moment in this competition. You can't allow one more defeat if you want to go through to the next round, so it's important to understand that. We'll go into the game tomorrow to win and then let's see what happens, step by step."

• Rohl says defender Nasser Djiga should be available for the next two games - Ferencvaros and then Hibs - before joining the Burkina Faso squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Between now and 11 January, Rangers play seven times in the Scottish Premiership - a packed period that will likely go a long way to deciding the success of their league season.

Those seven matches include a trip to league leaders Hearts, third-place Motherwell visiting Ibrox and a trip across Glasgow to take on rivals Celtic.

All three of those teams have outperformed Rangers this season, both statistically and aesthetically, and the Govan outfit have taken just two points from league matches against the top three sides in the division.

If Rohl's men are to mount a seemingly unlikely title challenge this season, that statistic simply has to change.

Rangers are six points behind Celtic and nine behind Hearts, who have played a game more.

If the gap to the top is more than that in just over a month's time, it would require an almighty turnaround to bring the Premiership trophy back to Ibrox for only the second time since 2011.

Motherwell have been the Premiership's surprise package under Jens Berthel Askou, playing superb free-flowing football on a shoestring budget - in stark contrast to the stodgy fare served up by Rangers after a summer of big spending.

That is perhaps slightly unfair on head coach Rohl, who has delivered improved results since inheriting the mess left behind by Russell Martin and a summer of confused recruitment.

They have gone from sixth place on nine points after the 2-2 draw against Dundee United on 18 October - the match before Rohl's appointment - to their current berth of fourth on 26 points.

Rangers are yet to lose in the league under Rohl, winning five of seven, but performances have been far from slick.

After successive draws against Falkirk and Dundee United - another 2-2 - Rohl said their title chances were "a long way but it's not impossible".

Former players were less optimistic.

"If Rohl could change this whole team [in January], I think he would," Cammy Bell said after the draw at Tannadice.

"I'm a massive believer that if you perform well on a weekly basis, the results will come. And I felt like a result like that today was coming for Rangers," Andy Halliday said of the disappointing 0-0 against Falkirk.

"Defensively, I think over the course of the season, Rangers look very suspect. At the top end of the pitch, they don't look as if they've got an actual goalscorer."

A much-improved display did follow against struggling Kilmarnock last weekend, but that must become the norm for Rohl and his side if they are to take advantage of the daunting run of fixtures ahead of them.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator in Budapest

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Ferencvaros head coach Robbie Keane has played down reports linking him with the recently vacant Celtic managerial post but didn't rule out a future move back to the club where he played in 2010.

The Irishman was one of the names mentioned amid Celtic's recent managerial search following Brendan Rodgers' resignation at the end of October before the appointment of Wilfried Nancy.

Keane took charge of Ferencvaros in January following a successful spell with Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.

"I can't help speculation," he said prior to his side's Europa League meeting with Rangers in Budapest on Thursday.

"My mind is here, I'm very happy. It's been a successful year, we won the league last year, we're doing well in Europe now, top of the league so I'm really enjoying it here.

"There are good people here. Sir Alex Ferguson always said to me go to a club with good people and this club is very well run. I couldn't be happier here."

When asked whether it would be a dream of his to one day manage at the club he supported as a boy he added: "You can never say never in football.

"I'm one of those guys who can never think too far ahead. I have to concentrate on what I do here because if you take your eye off the ball, you start losing games and you lose your job."

Victory for Ferencvaros at home to Rangers would put the Hungarians, currently sixth in the Europa League table, in a strong position to qualify automatically for the last 16.

"It's going to be a difficult game even though Rangers haven't done as well in Europe as they'd like," added Keane.

"Obviously a new manager has come in with some new ideas so we're expecting a tough game."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

The 3-0 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday means Rangers are still unbeaten in the league under Danny Rohl and somehow not quite out of the title race just yet, with a game in hand over Hearts who are nine points ahead.

The performance at Rugby Park was not a vintage one by any means, but at this stage it's just about trying to get as many positive results as possible for Rohl before he can try to improve his squad in January.

A real positive for Rangers was Bojan Miovski getting two goals. He has looked out of sorts since his return to Scotland but the confidence those goals will give him should not be underestimated.

Rohl, and the Rangers support, will certainly hope they can help him recapture the deadly form that won him the move from Aberdeen to Girona.

Mikey Moore's return to fitness and to the scoresheet (he was pretty unlucky not to get two goals) is also a boost to Rohl as he continues to try to find a formula that will consistently allow Rangers to be a goal threat while also keeping clean sheets.

Now attention returns to the Europa League and Rangers' seemingly forlorn hopes of reaching the knockout phase. On the basis of last season's league table, they would have to win all three of their remaining games against Ferencvaros and Porto away as well as Ludogorets at home.

That seems unlikely, but Rohl will want his side to give a good account of themselves in Budapest before Hibs visit Ibrox on Monday for a far more important game.

Bizarrely, their record away from home is far more impressive this year, but clearly they have to find a way of returning Ibrox to fortress status if they are to have any hope of success.

Rangers may yet have Nasser Djiga available to face Hibernian on Monday, despite the centre-half being called up by Burkina Faso for the Africa Cup of Nations. (Herald - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, Rangers head coach Danny Rohl is hoping for work as a TV pundit at next summer's World Cup and thinks it would help him scout players for the Ibrox club. (Sun), external

Rangers midfielder Kyle Glasgow, 15, has been called up by Portugal Under-16s. (Sun), external

Former Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson says he took his time to take the job with Newcastle United because he was happy with Nottingham Forest but eventually decided it was a "no-brainer". (Athletic - subscription required), external

Liverpool's board have discussed former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard as a possible managerial candidate internally as the pressure continues to mount on Arne Slot, but a return to Anfield from Saudi Arabia could be prevented by tax regulations. (Football Insider), external

Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell will serve a one-match touchline ban following his red card against Rangers. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande has been left out of defending champions Ivory Coast's squad for this month's Africa Cup of Nations.

It means the 24-year-old will be available for Rangers during the festive period, starting with Monday's visit by Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.

Nasser Djiga, the Burkina Faso centre-half on loan from Wolves, will now be Rangers' only absentee during Afcon 2025, which lasts until 18 January.

The deadline for naming 28-man squads for the 24-team tournament in Morocco is Thursday, with the mandatory release date for clubs to make players available being Monday.

As Hibs were visiting that evening, Diomande's participation was in doubt for that game, but that is no longer a factor after head coach Emerse Fae left him out of his squad.

Diomande has eight caps for his country but has not featured in Ivory Coast's latest six games.

He has only started eight of Rangers' past 18 matches.

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

After the draw at Tannadice - where profligate Rangers registered an xG of 4.39 but needed an injury-time Nedim Bajrami penalty to stave off defeat - the Kilmarnock game took on extra significance.

Instead of it being nervy and frantic, Danny Rohl's side showed their clinical side, winning comfortably.

That's not the norm this season. However, the timing of the goals was vital. Taking the lead is important for this team given their obvious shortcomings and getting the second goal so early in the second half killed the game.

There were many good performances. The midfield three of Nico Raskin, Connor Barron and Mo Diomande played well, even though the latter was lucky not to give away a penalty for a pull on David Watson.

Also, it was pleasing to see Bojan Miovski score two good goals. Hopefully that double can give the North Macedonia striker some confidence to show more of the form that got him a move from Aberdeen to La Liga last year.

Mikey Moore had just been finding his feet before he got injured last month. Coming on for his comeback at Rugby Park, the 18-year-old looked like he had never been away. His goal was superb, taking the ball on the half-turn and driving at the Killie defence before passing the ball into the net.

Now comes another massive week - we go to Budapest on Thursday to face Ferencvaros in very much a last chance to remain in the Europa League. Hopefully Moore and Miovski start that game.

And then we have Hibs at Ibrox on Monday night. Who knows what will happen but we have to take the games one at a time and see where we end up.

Rangers have offered 29-year-old Scotland centre-half John Souttar, who is out of contract next summer, improved terms on an extension until the summer of 2028. (Daily Record), external

On-loan Rangers winger Oscar Cortes says he is focused on securing more playing time with Sporting Gijon amid reports in Spain suggesting he wants to return to Ibrox because of his lack of appearances. (El Comercio), external

Manu Farjado has stressed he is fully focused on his job as Real Betis sporting director after being linked with the same job with Rangers. (Movistar Plus LaLiga via Estadio Deportivo), external

Rangers have paused their search for an academy head while the recruitment process to appoint a chief executive and sporting director is ongoing. (Rangers Review), external

Scotland's top clubs are fearing a six-figure loss in their academy budgets after the Scottish FA indicated that annual payments via Club Academy Scotland could be stopped. (Daily Record), external

Rangers fans' pyrotechnic display at Kilmarnock's Rugby Park on Saturday is set to trigger their suspended sanction of tickets being kept back for an away game. (The Herald), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Will Bojan Miovski's double in Saturday's 3-0 win away to Kilmarnock signal a change in fortunes for the Rangers striker?

That was the question being asked by two former Ibrox players, host Steven Thompson and guest Richard Foster, on BBC Scotland's Sportscene.

Foster said Miovski's 33rd-minute opener came from a counter-attack that was "all over the place" and "got really slow" - and one that goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi will be disappointed to have lost.

"It's the old-fashioned toe-bash," he said. "It's probably the only thing he can do in that situation.

"I do think he is the most natural goalscorer of the Rangers strikers and that finish probably highlights that. No backlift, get the shot away and catches the keeper unaware."

Foster thinks Miovski's second, 10 minutes after the break, came from poor defending by full-back Dominic Thompson but nevertheless was "a brilliant finish".

It took the North Macedonia striker up to five for the season since arriving from Girona this summer.

"When Miovski went to Rangers, everybody thought it was a pretty shrewd signing because of the form he showed at Aberdeen," Foster added.

"He left there and didn't have a good time of it, but Rangers fans will be hoping that is the start of something."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Rangers winger Neil McCann believes Bojan Miovski could be the man to fire the Ibrox club even closer to the top two in the Scottish Premiership.

The former Aberdeen striker scored twice as Rangers beat Kilmarnock 3-0, with the other goal coming from Mikey Moore.

The victory at Rugby Park took Danny Rohl's side to within six points of reigning champions Celtic in second.

McCann believes Rohl has impressed since taking over from Russell Martin, with the Europa League draw against 10-man Braga the one disappointing result.

"Danny Rohl has made a good start, certainly in the league, where they have a bit of traction," he said on the Scottish Football Podcast.

"The European game was disappointing, not to close it out against 10 men.

"Strikers scoring is so important. I think you end up being judged on your strikers. If you're scoring you can afford to leak a few. If you're not, you are looking at scraping draws.

"Youssef Chermiti, Miovski, Danilo and the wide players have not been scoring enough goals.

"And so many goals have been ravaged from the team from last season - Cyriel Dessers, Vaclav Cerny and Hamza Igamane. That's 40-odd goals and is a massive miss.

"Those goals are good for Bojan personally but great for the team. Mikey Moore has come back in and scored.

"Chermiti has a lot of pressure on him but Rangers need a striker in form and Miovski has shown that. Now they need to supplement goals around him

"They need to search for better performances but if they can put a bit of style on, all the better."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Connor Barron covered so much artificial grass at Rugby Park. An impressive overall showing from the central midfielder, while Bojan Miovski's cheeky second finish showed a return of confidence for the North Macedonian international.

If he can start to supply a steady run of goals maybe Rangers are not completely out of this title race after all.

Both players make my team of the week.

Former Coleraine manager Dean Shiels - once a player with Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Rangers - is in the running for the Greenock Morton manager's job. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.