Emmanuel Fernandez is making waves, but is he destined for Germany or staying put at Rangers?
Just as one impressive winning streak met its end, Emmanuel Fernandez has rallied his Rangers teammates, urging them to immediately forge a new path of victory. The recent Europa League clash against Porto on Thursday night marked the first time since December 21st that the Gers tasted defeat, as Porto ultimately ended their European campaign. This loss brought to a close an outstanding run of eight consecutive wins, a formidable streak that now sets the stage for a crucial league fixture this Sunday at Easter Road.
With only 15 league matches remaining, Fernandez and his fellow players are laser-focused on their pursuit of title glory. The imposing defender shared his thoughts on the team's mindset, stating that they are fully prepared for the challenges ahead. Fernandez emphasized the critical need to quickly put the recent setback behind them and shift their complete attention to the next game. He expressed a strong sense of readiness within the squad, highlighting that a club of Rangers' stature demands an unwavering hunger from every player. "If you come to a club like this and you don’t have the hunger, then why are you here?" he questioned, underscoring the high expectations.
Fernandez believes the key to success lies in maintaining focus on each individual match. He acknowledged that Sunday's game will undoubtedly be difficult, as is the case with every fixture they face. The most effective strategy, in his view, is to concentrate on delivering a strong performance in every game, which is the surest way to secure positive results. "Whoever we come up against, we have to deal with it," he asserted.
But here's where it gets controversial... The concept of 'team' is paramount, according to Fernandez. He believes that sticking together as a unit will yield significant positives, while a lack of cohesion will inevitably lead to difficult periods. He credits the manager with instilling this sense of unity. "As long as we’re connected on the pitch and we’re connected as a group off the pitch, then there’s not really many teams that can come up against us and take us on toe-to-toe." He expressed complete faith in every player, stating, "I couldn’t doubt any player on the team. I think I back every person on the team. I think we all back each other." He also confidently declared that regardless of future developments, the squad remains strong and will only grow more formidable.
It's worth remembering that when manager Danny Rohl took the helm, Rangers were a significant 13 points behind Hearts and had been largely written off. However, in a remarkable turnaround, the Light Blues have clawed their way back into contention, narrowing the gap to just four points behind the league leaders. While a pivotal clash against the league leaders looms in just over two weeks, Fernandez stressed that the immediate priority is Sunday's encounter with Hibs.
He reiterated the importance of the remaining 15 games, acknowledging the significant amount of work still to be done. "We know what we can do, what we can achieve." The focus, he stressed, is on a game-by-game approach, starting with a strong performance on Sunday. "We’ve got to focus on bringing the best out of ourselves each game and make sure that every game we play well and win." This approach, he noted, has been their modus operandi thus far, with a strong defensive foundation and a commitment to keeping clean sheets being crucial. "It’s not only us as a defence, it’s us as a whole team and I feel like everyone has come together and we’re putting in performances and we’re getting results."
While Rangers had a promising start against Porto, with Djeidi Gassama scoring early, a turbulent 14-minute period saw Porto surge to a 3-1 lead, ultimately ending Rangers' European journey for the season. Fernandez views this experience as a valuable learning opportunity. "We were on a good eight game unbeaten run, but we were coming up against a good side in Porto... We started well, but we let them back into the game." He believes there's still much to glean from the competition as a whole and from this specific match, particularly noting moments where they could genuinely compete toe-to-toe and take pride in their second-half effort to fight back.
And this is the part most people miss... Amidst this footballing drama, speculation has been rife. Earlier this week, it was reported that scouts from prominent German clubs Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen had been observing the 24-year-old Fernandez in recent weeks. Having joined Rangers last summer for a fee of £3.5 million, Fernandez, after an initial adjustment period, is now appearing to be an excellent acquisition. However, he seemed unfazed by the Bundesliga transfer rumors. "Honestly, I haven’t heard about it," he confessed, adding that his focus remains squarely on his current club and achieving success there. He views the transfer talk as a testament to the team's progress, but crucially, he credits his teammates for his own success. "Without my teammates, I wouldn’t have done well. And without me, then my teammates wouldn’t have done as well either. So it all comes hand in hand together."
What are your thoughts on Emmanuel Fernandez's future? Do you believe he'll remain a key player for Rangers, or is a move to the Bundesliga inevitable? Let us know in the comments below!
