As demonstrated in the first leg, Rangers defeated Europa League last-16 opponents Fenerbahce 3-1. Games like these are frequently decided in the middle of the park.
Jose Mourinho thought the suspended Fred would be a significant blow. To make matters worse, the former Manchester United enforcer’s understudy, Ismail Yuksek, was also ruled out due to injury.
And, while Sofyan Amrabat and Sebastian Szymanski add technical quality, the Fenerbahce combo lacks the tenacity and off-the-ball sprinting strength of Fred or Yuksek.
As a result, Connor Barron delivered a ‘phenomenal’ performance in his first game back since January, and on a night when Nico Raskin demonstrated his ‘world-class’ ability, the Rangers emerged victorious. Not only in the midfield battle, but also on the score sheet.
The signing of Barron allowed Barry Ferguson to use a new-look 3-4-2-1 system, pushing Mohamed Diomande into a more advanced role. A decision that paid off within six minutes. Diomande’s high pressing from the front caused an error, allowing Cyriel Dessers to open the scoring.
Oussama Targhalline would have been great for the Rangers’ midfield.
With the Europa League quarter-finals barely 90 minutes away, it would be surprising if Ferguson veered from an approach that worked so well in Istanbul.
According to sources, Rangers were keeping an eye on Oussama Targhalline ahead of the January transfer window. Targhalline is the third Moroccan to grab the club’s eye in recent years, after Rangers lost Couhaib Driouech to PSV but signed Hamza Igamane. Targhalline was playing for Le Havre in France at the time.
He would finish the winter as a Feyenoord player. The 2023 Eredivisie winners paid a bargain fee in the area of £800,000, with Targhalline’s contract set to expire the following summer.
It’s unclear whether Targhalline would have been as effective in closing down Fenerbahce as those currently overseen by Barry Ferguson. However, as former Feyenoord captain Karim El-Ahmadi discusses the qualities that pleased him during the midfielder’s first few weeks at De Kuip, it is evident what Rangers saw in the all-action 22-year-old.
“From what I have seen of him, he is really very good,” El-Ahmadi tells De Klank Van on Feyenoord ONE. “Targhalline is a unique player who excels at swiping balls.
“He dribbles with confidence and has good acceleration. He may still need to figure out what his best position is, but I do not believe he will become a scoring midfielder with many assists. The Moroccan team’s coach is likewise quite supportive of him.
Feyenoord player combines Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande’s skills.
Targhalline has only started one of his three Eredivisie games, but he already averages 2.7 successful tackles per game in a Feyenoord shirt. That is the most by any player currently at De Kuip.
Targhalline not only has ball-winning abilities similar to Raskin’s, but he also enjoys picking up the ball and driving forward with elegance and purpose. Perhaps Raskin’s perseverance in battle combined with Mohamed Diomande’s drive.
“He was involved in everything,” former Ajax and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Marciano Vink said of Targhalline following Feyenoord’s 2-1 victory over Almere City in February. “He won practically every ball himself. He simply has an excellent sense of positioning.
“I believe this is another solid buy for Feyenoord. This is a breath of new air in midfield, especially since you’re missing In-beom Hwang and Quinten Timber.
“Feyenoord’s Targhalline wanted almost every ball and did not hide,” says Barry Opdam, who was capped eight times by the Netherlands in the mid-2000s, in an interview with De Telegraaf.
“He is also very agile on the ball and seeks forward-thinking solutions. He adds solid pressure up front and has a lot of good interceptions on defense, thanks in part to his running abilities.
Rangers will need Barron, Raskin, and Diomande to defeat Fenerbahce at Ibrox tonight. It appears like Oussama Targhalline would have fit in well as a trio.
