In a striking moment of clarity, Emmanuel Fernandez has opened up about his future with Rangers amidst significant interest from top-tier German clubs like Borussia Dortmund.
As the team faced a setback after an impressive winning streak, Fernandez rallied his teammates to quickly regroup and aim for another successful run. During Thursday night’s match at Estadio Dragao, the Gers suffered their first defeat since December 21, as Porto ended their hopes in the Europa League, which was quite a disappointment after they had enjoyed eight consecutive victories.
With only 15 league matches remaining, the squad is determined to pursue the title with renewed vigor. Following the game, Fernandez expressed his belief in the team's resilience, stating, "We need to go on another winning streak. Let's put this loss behind us, focus on the next challenge ahead. I truly believe we’re ready for it."
He emphasized the importance of hunger and commitment when playing for a prestigious club like Rangers. "If you’re here without the desire to succeed, then what’s your purpose?" he challenged.
Fernandez acknowledged the tough journey ahead, particularly with the upcoming match against Hibernian, emphasizing that every game poses its challenges. "We need to stay sharp and concentrated for each match. It won’t be easy, but if we perform well, we can achieve the results we desire. Whatever team we face, we have to rise to the occasion. Being a cohesive unit will be essential for our success."
The defender also pointed out that unity both on and off the pitch is vital. He noted, "If we maintain our connection during games and as a group, there aren’t many teams that can match us. I have complete confidence in every player on this team. We all support one another. Even if there are changes ahead, our squad remains strong and will only get better."
When Danny Rohl took over as manager, Rangers found themselves trailing Hearts by 13 points and many had written them off in the title race. However, the team has made a remarkable comeback, narrowing the gap to just four points behind the league leaders. The highly anticipated match against Hearts is just around the corner, but Fernandez insists that the priority is firmly on Hibs.
"We have a crucial 15 games left, and we have a lot to accomplish in that time. We understand our capabilities and what we can achieve. We must approach this one game at a time, starting with a strong performance against Hibs on Sunday. Focus is key—not just on other teams, but on our own game as well. We need to consistently bring out the best in ourselves," he explained.
The team’s strong defensive play has been a cornerstone of their recent success, and Fernandez highlighted that defense is a collective effort. "It’s not just about the defenders; it's about the entire team contributing to solid performances that lead to positive outcomes."
In a recent match, Rangers got off to a fantastic start with Djeidi Gassama scoring within just six minutes. Unfortunately, a chaotic 14-minute period allowed Porto to take a commanding 3-1 lead, ultimately sealing Rangers' fate in the European competition for the season. Reflecting on this experience, Fernandez said, "We were on an impressive unbeaten streak, but facing a team like Porto is always going to be tough. We began strongly, yet we let them back into the match. There are definitely lessons to be learned from this encounter and from the competition as a whole. We fought hard in the second half and showed character, and I believe there’s still much more potential in this team."
This week, it came to light that scouts from both Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have been monitoring the 24-year-old defender’s performances closely. Since joining Rangers for £3.5 million last summer, Fernandez has started to prove his worth after a challenging beginning, but he brushed off the speculation linking him to the Bundesliga.
"Honestly, I hadn’t heard about those rumors," he admitted. "Someone mentioned it to me before, but right now my focus is entirely on succeeding here at Rangers. All this talk shows that progress is being made, but I owe a lot to my teammates. Without their support, I wouldn't have performed at my best, and vice versa."
Fernandez concluded with a motivating note: "Together, we need to keep pushing forward, working hard, and the results will follow."
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