AliousNeil Lennon acknowledges that Barry Ferguson’s Rangers face a significant challenge as they prepare to take on Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the Europa League last 16.
This encounter marks the first time a Scottish club has faced a Mourinho-led team in a competitive fixture since the 2003 UEFA Cup final, when Lennon’s Celtic lost 3-2 in extra time to Mourinho’s Porto in a heated contest in Seville.
Reflecting on that experience, Lennon holds no personal grudge against Mourinho and instead praises him as one of the greatest managers of all time.
“Maybe he’s not at his peak now, but I admired him,” Lennon said.
“He broke my heart in Seville, but when you consider what he accomplished with Porto, then Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, it’s remarkable. He’s an exceptional coach and a good person too.
He’s got that fiery edge, which I appreciate. That kind of personality is sometimes missing in the game.”
Lennon also highlighted Mourinho’s impressive career, recalling how the Portuguese manager once described finishing second with Manchester United as one of his greatest achievements—something that was initially dismissed but has since gained more recognition.
He pointed out Mourinho’s successes at United, including winning the Europa League and the League Cup, as well as reaching a League Cup final with Tottenham before being dismissed.
“The guy’s a winner,” Lennon emphasized. “He finds a way to get results, no matter what. Sometimes, that’s what it takes to survive in football.”
Turning his attention to Ferguson, Lennon empathizes with the challenges his former rival now faces. Like Lennon’s own appointment at Celtic in 2010 following Tony Mowbray’s departure, Ferguson has been handed the responsibility of stabilizing Rangers, a club where he was once a key player.
Lennon acknowledged that last weekend’s defeat to Motherwell would have hurt Ferguson deeply, especially on a personal level. “It’s a kind of audition for him,” Lennon remarked.
“I’m not sure if the Rangers board is seriously considering him for the permanent role, but losing to Motherwell will have stung.
Now he’s facing a huge test with games against Fenerbahce and Celtic.
For a Rangers manager, these are the kind of fixtures you live for, but they won’t be easy.”
Alious
