Any Rangers supporters hoping for Steven Gerrard's return will find encouragement in Jose Mourinho's recent remarks.
The Special One, whose Fenerbahce team take on Rangers in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash on Thursday, didn't directly mention Gerrard but seemed to hint that he would be a better managerial choice than Philippe Clement had been.
In a dig at the Belgian, who was dismissed last month after Rangers' 2-0 loss to St Mirren, Mourinho criticised Clement's focus on "philosophy," suggesting it hindered his ability to bond with and inspire his players and ultimately led to his departure.
"It's going to be a lot tougher with him [Rangers interim boss Barry Ferguson] in charge than with the previous manager, because the former manager was more focused on philosophy than (thumps his chest) what happens on the pitch," Mourinho told reporters.
"You win matches on the pitch, not with philosophy. For sure, Ferguson will be far more pragmatic. Much more direct. It will be tough for us, but it will be difficult for them [as well]."
Mourinho's comments could be interpreted as a subtle endorsement of Gerrard, who is heavily linked with a return to Ibrox. The former England midfielder led Rangers to their first Scottish Premiership title in a decade in 2021 and is currently a free agent after leaving Saudi Pro League team Al Ettifaq in January.
As a manager, Gerrard hasn't been known for sticking rigidly to one particular system or philosophy, preferring instead to focus on energy, mentality, and adaptability. This makes him a potentially ideal solution for Rangers following a period of tactical inflexibility under Clement.
It's still unclear whether Gerrard would be interested in returning to Glasgow, but his former Liverpool team-mate Stephane Henchoz believes he'd be open to it and that it would be a wise move for both parties. "Steven Gerrard going back to Rangers would 100 per cent make sense," the 50-year-old, who also had a spell at Celtic, told BoyleSports.
"He succeeded at Rangers during his first stint, and I think the fans would be thrilled. You'd need to ask him, but I have a feeling he'd be keen to return because of how well it went and how much he was appreciated.
"Right now, the club is in a very tough spot, with Barry Ferguson stepping in as caretaker manager. We'll have to see how things go until the end of the season. Steven Gerrard would be a fantastic option for the summer."
Since leaving Rangers just over three years ago, Gerrard's reputation has taken a significant hit. His time at Aston Villa lasted less than a year, and his 18-month stint with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq was entirely forgettable.
He isn't the only candidate in the running for the Rangers job either. Russell Martin, who was recently dismissed by Southampton, is reportedly under consideration, along with David Wagner, Jesse Marsch and Rafael Benitez.
Ferguson could also be a contender if he makes a strong impression during his interim tenure, though his start hasn't been ideal. After winning his first match in charge against Kilmarnock, Rangers suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Motherwell, leaving them 16 points adrift of leaders Celtic - a gap that could widen to 19 points if they lose next week's Old Firm derby.
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That leaves the Europa League as Rangers' final chance for silverware this season, though the road to success is far from straightforward. Even if they manage to overcome Mourinho's Fenerbahce, they will face the winner of Roma and Athletic Club in the next round, with potential clashes against Manchester United and Tottenham after that.
Still, Ferguson has expressed excitement about the prospect of facing some of Europe's top teams and managers. "We're not going into this without preparation. We're facing a very strong team with talented players and, in my view, a top manager, so we're expecting a tough challenge, but we’re ready. The lads know their roles," he said.
"[Mourinho is] an elite manager, and I’m really looking forward to facing him... We’re up against a very good team, and we’ll need to be at our absolute best if we want to achieve a positive result."
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