Alious
Barry Ferguson has initiated crucial discussions with his Rangers squad in a bid to address the troubling inconsistency that has plagued their domestic campaign. The former club captain, who took over managerial duties on an interim basis following Philippe Clement’s departure in February, admitted to frustration after their latest 2-0 defeat to Hibernian in the William Hill Premiership.
That loss marked a fifth consecutive home defeat for the Light Blues and further widened the gap between them and league leaders Celtic to 13 points, putting them on course for a trophy-less domestic season.
With a Europa League quarter-final clash against Athletic Bilbao looming, Ferguson acknowledged the urgency of resetting the team’s mindset.
Speaking ahead of Thursday night’s tie —where key players John Souttar and Mohamed Diomande will be unavailable due to suspension Ferguson explained the importance of the in-depth conversations held with players and staff earlier in the week.
“Saturday and Sunday were incredibly tough to process,” he said. “We came in on Monday and had a very frank and extended meeting. I voiced my concerns, my coaching staff had their say, and the players contributed too — and I welcomed that.”
Ferguson emphasized the need for openness and honesty within the squad, stressing that mutual accountability could be the key to solving their performance issues. “We’ve been too quiet for too long. It was the right time to really sit down and examine what’s going wrong. It was helpful to hear the players’ perspectives too.”
Determined to create a united front for the remainder of the season, Ferguson added, “We now have clarity on how we’re approaching the rest of the campaign — not just Thursday’s game, but every match ahead. I want to see more engagement, more debate among the group. That’s how we get better.”
Rangers’ season has been defined by stark contrasts — flashes of brilliance followed by inexplicable lapses. Ferguson hopes that the team has finally identified the root of their inconsistency and can now build toward a more stable finish.
In response to speculation about changes to the starting lineup — especially around under-fire goalkeeper Jack Butland, who was at fault for Hibs’ opening goal — Ferguson remained tight-lipped. “I’m not going to reveal whether I’ve had individual conversations with Jack or any other player,” he said. “You’ll see the decisions on match day.”
He added, “Mistakes happen in football. I’ve been there myself. Some players aren’t hitting the standards we expect — or they expect from themselves — but I won’t discuss specific changes. I’ll make selections based on what I believe gives us the best chance of getting the right result.”
As Rangers look to salvage something from an erratic season through European success, Ferguson will be hoping that honest dialogue translates into decisive action on the pitch.
Alious
