AliousBarry Ferguson has admitted he was bracing for the worst as he watched Rangers F.C. struggle early on, but one standout moment has completely shifted his outlook on the title race.
Watching from home as his former side took on Falkirk F.C., the Ibrox legend was far from impressed. From the opening whistle, Rangers looked off the pace—slow in possession, lacking urgency, and seemingly weighed down by both the conditions and the pressure.
Even accounting for the difficult weather, Ferguson felt there was no excuse for such a flat performance with so much at stake. At 2-0 down inside half an hour, his concerns grew into genuine alarm.
But then came a turning point.Ferguson revealed that seeing Nico Raskin ignite with intensity and purpose changed everything. When the Belgian midfielder plays with that kind of fire, Ferguson believes he becomes unstoppable—arguably the most influential player in Scottish football on his day.
Having worked closely with Raskin during his own time at Ibrox, Ferguson reflected on their conversations and the small tactical adjustments he encouraged.
Rather than confining Raskin to a deep-lying role, he pushed him to be more dynamic—driving forward, attacking space, and impacting the final third. The result, in Ferguson’s view, was a player who evolved into a complete midfielder capable of dictating games and deciding them.
He maintains that Raskin isn’t limited to a single role. Forget the labels of No.6, No.8, or No.10—Ferguson sees him as a blend of all three, a player with the tools to control, create, and score.
Crucially, he also pointed to the supporting cast around him. With players like Connor Barron, Mohamed Diomande, and Tochi Chukwuani offering balance and structure in midfield, Raskin is now being given the freedom to express himself again—something Ferguson believes is key to unlocking his best form.
Ferguson didn’t shy away from acknowledging that Raskin could be challenging at times, but he saw that as a positive trait—a player eager to learn and understand.
What puzzled him more was how the midfielder seemed to fall out of favor under subsequent management, something he admits he struggled to comprehend.
Now, however, with Raskin rediscovering his spark at the business end of the season, Ferguson is convinced Rangers have a genuine chance. With just a handful of games remaining, he believes this resurgence could be the catalyst for a dramatic title-winning finish.
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