Barry Ferguson urged his jubilant Rangers players to ‘go and enjoy the next couple of days’ after capping the perfect week with a dramatic late win over Celtic.
Substitute Hamza Igamane’s 88th-minute thunderbolt saw the Ibrox men win at Parkhead for the first time since October 2020 — and came just days after they sealed a Europa League quarter-final place with a penalty shootout victory over Fenerbahce.
The visitors took the lead through Nicolas Raskin within five minutes. He then turned provider for Mohamed Diomande, who deservedly doubled their advantage before the break.
Goals from Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate drew Brendan Rodgers’ side level, but Igamane came off the bench and capitalised on a defensive calamity to fire home the winner.
Insisting his team fully merited their triumph, interim boss Ferguson said: ‘It’s a good feeling, coming to your fiercest rivals and deserving to win the game. I just said to the players to go and enjoy the next couple of days.
‘If you look at the game overall, we deserved it. The first half was the game plan we came with, the boys kept to it perfectly.
Barry Ferguson looks to the heavens in celebration after Rangers’ 3-2 win against Celtic
Hamza Igamane savours the goal that gave Rangers their first win at Celtic Park since 2020
‘What I’ve been trying to drum into the boys is that you need more than being a good player.
‘They’ve been labelled (not having) character, and this is one of the things I stressed when I came in.
‘It takes a certain type to be a very good Rangers player, and my group of players are certainly starting to show that.
‘I’ve seen it in the last couple of games, you saw it last Thursday night (against Fenerbahce).
‘I put it on them to come here and put a performance on and they certainly did that. I’ve got to give them huge credit.
‘I wanted them to show me what they’ve got in the locker, and what they’ve got in the locker is coming back into the game and getting a brilliant goal from Hamza.’
After a winning Old Firm debut in the dugout, Ferguson admitted it was a very different experience from his playing days in the fixture.
‘Yeah, it’s different because if you’re on the pitch you can affect it,’ he said.
‘I don’t think they can hear me at the side because obviously it’s noisy, and they’re probably happy with that because you can probably hear my voice.
Substitute Igamane secured three points for Rangers with a stunning strike in the 88th minute
‘Again, I’ve lost it but, listen, it was a brilliant experience to come here and lead a Rangers team and stand at the touchline. I’m proud of the way that they went about their business.’
Despite yesterday’s win and his team’s heroics against Fenerbahce, Ferguson refused to be drawn on his future beyond the end of the season.
The former club captain took over from Philippe Clement last month with the club in disarray, but insists his focus is solely on getting them back to where they belong.
He said: ‘I’ve got a contract (to) the end of May. I’m not even thinking about it, if I’m being honest with you.
‘I’m thinking, just make sure I go on a good run with this group of players, keep trying to improve every single day we’re in training, and then, come the end of May, I’ll be away on a family holiday.
‘I’ve got a job to come in here and sort a few issues. Slowly but surely, myself and the coaching staff, and everybody who’s still at the club, we’re going in the right direction.
‘There’s still a lot of things that we can improve on as a group of players, also within the training centre, and that’s something we’re desperate to do.’