MusaBy his own admission, Jose Mourinho has yet to decide how he will approach overturning Fenerbahce’s two-goal deficit in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Rangers at Ibrox.
“I don’t know if we should be patient,” Mourinho said during his pre-match press conference.
“Should we attack? We have worked on defensive blocks. Hopefully, we will take it to the end. We will come and do our best.”
Whether this is classic Mourinho mind games or genuine uncertainty about the best approach for such a high-stakes match, only the man himself knows for sure.
One thing Mourinho is certain of, however, is that Rangers will look to capitalize on Fenerbahce’s mistakes once again. These were the kinds of errors that allowed Cyriel Dessers to score an early sixth-minute goal in Istanbul, while also giving Vaclav Cerny the time and space to net twice and secure a 3-1 first-leg victory.
If only away goals still counted for double, right, Rangers fans?
Jose Mourinho wary of Rangers duo Cyriel Dessers and Vaclav Cerny:
The former Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Inter Milan boss has only managed at the “iconic” Ibrox stadium once before. Mourinho’s Chelsea suffered a 2-0 defeat to Rangers in a friendly back in 2007.
Fifteen years later, he expects the current Rangers frontline to pose similar problems for his Fenerbahce side, just as they did in the first leg. Mourinho acknowledged that the speed and ruthlessness of Cyriel Dessers and Vaclav Cerny made the difference in Turkey.
Assuming Barry Ferguson sticks with a 3-4-2-1 formation—with Cerny given a freer, more central role in the attack—opportunities are likely to arise in transition against a Fenerbahce side under pressure to score at least twice.
“Ibrox is an iconic stadium, known in England and Scotland,” Mourinho said, via the Antalya Expres. “And, of course, the fans will not accept a defensive performance here. It may be successful for them, but will they be able to accept defensive behaviour?
“We are ready for football. We expect Rangers to play the same way. They will wait for us to make mistakes. Players like Cerny and Dessers will go on counter-attacks.
“Or will Ferguson decide to play differently? Will they score the first goal? Will they play very strong? I don’t know.
“I hope we can put this performance on the field and take it to the end. The only thing I want from my players and I tell my players is; ‘Come here tomorrow, we will get through this round tomorrow.’
“I would say; ‘Of course we will come and give it a go.’”
Mourinho summed up Dessers perfectly in Turkey:
Despite the criticism he often receives, Dessers has now scored 22 goals this season. Across his two seasons in Scotland, the striker has netted 44 times in 97 appearances.
Ferguson admits that Dessers can be “frustrating”—capable of brilliance one moment and mediocrity the next—but his recent Europa League performances against Manchester United, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Fenerbahce suggest that, like Rangers as a whole, he tends to shine on the big European stage.
“Dessers is a good player. Today, he looked like the best player in the world,” Mourinho said in Istanbul after the striker tormented his defense.
“But he is not.”
Musa
