Fenerbahce vs Rangers: Mourinho optimistic before Europa League clash

Fenerbahce will face Scottish side Rangers on Thursday in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16. The match will occur at Ulker Stadium and kick off at 8:45 p.m. (GMT+3) Türkiye time.

Spanish referee Alejandro Hernandez will officiate the game, assisted by his compatriots Jose Naranjo and Guadalupe Porras Ayuso. The fourth official will be Jose Luis Munuera, while Cesar Soto Grado will oversee VAR and Valentin Gomez will serve as AVAR.

Fenerbahce aims to secure a home victory to gain an advantage before the second leg in Scotland.

Fenerbahce continues its pursuit on 3 fronts

Currently competing in three different tournaments, Fenerbahce looks to maintain its momentum in the Europa League. The team will be without four players due to injuries and two others due to suspensions, while Rangers will miss two players due to injuries.

Fenerbahce advanced to this stage by defeating Belgian side Anderlecht 5-2 on aggregate in the play-off round. The Turkish club last faced Rangers in 2001, winning the match 2-1.

En-Nesyri leading attack

Youssef En-Nesyri has been Fenerbahce’s key attacking threat in the Europa League, scoring 6 of the team’s 14 goals in the competition so far.

Fenerbahce battled against Union Saint-Gilloise, Twente, Manchester United, AZ Alkmaar, Slavia Prague, Athletic Bilbao, Olympique Lyon, and Midtjylland during the group stage, collecting 10 points to finish 24th overall. Under Jose Mourinho, the team secured two wins, two draws, and suffered four losses.

Rangers, on the other hand, finished eighth in the group stage and directly qualified for the Round of 16.

Mourinho: ‘Our unbeaten run is built on spirit, courage’

Ahead of the clash with Rangers, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho spoke about his team’s recent form. The Portuguese coach emphasized the importance of resilience and respect for opponents, attributing their 18-match unbeaten streak to their fighting spirit.

We have faced difficulties on the pitch because we have played against strong teams. But we have always respected our opponents. The reason for our 18-match unbeaten run is the courage and spirit we have shown in the face of challenges. Off the pitch, we haven’t encountered any serious difficulties.

Jose Mourinho

The experienced coach also made remarks about the rivalry with Galatasaray, stating that Fenerbahce is trying to challenge an established system.

This is not just about football. There is a system in place where Galatasaray has dominance. It is not something pleasant, but despite the difficulty, I am working to change that. I feel better than ever. I am at a great club, Fenerbahce, which wants to win fairly and ensure that the Turkish league continues in a just manner. I also believe I have improved as a coach.

Jose Mourinho

Caglar Soyuncu: ‘We want to win with our fans’ support’

Fenerbahce defender Caglar Soyuncu also shared his thoughts ahead of the match, expressing confidence in the team.

“With our fans’ support, we will leave the pitch with a great result. We are facing a strong opponent, but we are also a strong team. We have been performing very well lately. Fenerbahce is competing for all three trophies, and we have both the strength and belief to achieve this,” Soyuncu said.

Expected lineups

Fenerbahce (4-2-3-1): Irfan Can Egribayat, Caglar Soyuncu, Skriniar, Yusuf Akcicek, Amrabat; Szymanski, Mert Muldur; Kostic, Tadic, Dzeko, En-Nesyri

Rangers (4-2-3-1): Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte; Diomande, Raskin, Cerny, Igamane, Hagi, Dessers