José Mourinho climbed the heat before the confrontation of Ibrox on Thursday night by insisting that Fenerbahce is a better team than the Rangers.
Despite admitting that they deserved to lose 3-1 against the men of Barry Ferguson in Istanbul last week, Mourinho insisted that they are a superior side and remain perfectly able to change the Europa League link the last 16.
“I think Rangers is not a better team than us,” said the Portuguese coach.
'And I think we have the opportunity to qualify. It is not pain, it is not that you want revenge, or we have to go there to show that we are better. It's not about that.
'It's just the fact that I honestly think we are better. But, while trying to be very honest after the game there and even today, we deserved to lose.
'I didn't try to use anything (as an excuse) because we made mistakes, and capitalized our mistakes. They were motivated. They were fighting together. They deserved to win, so there are no bad feelings.
José Mourinho said that his Fenerbahce team is superior to the rangers at the press conference
The Portuguese coach made some observations during a walk in Ibrox
Mourinho even had time for a heading practice before the Europa League crash
Referring to the Super Lig match of his team with Samsunspor on Sunday, Mourinho said: 'We have such an important game that, if I feel that we have no possibility (in Ibrox), I would prepare for Sunday.
'But I'm not preparing for Sunday, I'm preparing for tomorrow because I honestly think we have a chance. So, while we have a chance, come on.
Mourinho, whose undefeated race of 18 games of the team was completed by Rangers, added: 'In the last 19 games, we played 18 good games and 18 good results, and a poor performance against the Rangers and a bad result against the Rangers.
“We all believe that our team at this time is the team that was 18 games obtaining results and we are not the team that played against the Rangers last Thursday.”
Meanwhile, the interim chief of the Rangers, Ferguson, warned his players to prepare for a reaction inspired by Mourinho.
Despite the 3-1 advantage of his team, he said he has too much respect for former decoration Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United and the head of Tottenham to assume that the Rangers already have one foot in the quarterfinals.
“First, I have great respect for him,” said Ferguson, when asked about the dynamics of trying to close a draw against a manager of the Pedigrí de Mourinho.
'He has won 26 trophies in several different countries; It has been handled at the highest level. It is a real challenge for me, but, he listens, I am not afraid of the challenge.
Barry Ferguson has warned the rangers that they are ready for an inspired reaction
The interim manager cut a relaxed and happy figure at his press conference on Wednesday.
Mourinho has already started mental games by stating that his team is better despite the 3-1 deficit
'Standing on the touch line (next to him last week), it was an honor for me. He has a very good team, he is a first -class manager.
'I would have been suffering, I know in fact. You will see a different type of Fenerbahce tomorrow night, there is no doubt about that.
'We have worked the last three days in different scenarios that I think will happen within the game. We just have to wait and see what happens eight, but I have all the faith in my group of players.
After the first leg, Mourinho reminded the Rangers not to “celebrate too much”, since the tie was halfway.
Ferguson insisted that there was never any possibility of complacency, but admitted that his players had every right to celebrate victory last week.
'I emphasized my players, if you want a game, enjoy it because there are fans who pay a fortune to come and look at us.
'See, appreciate how far they have traveled and how much they have paid, they enter the locker room, put some music.
'Once we got on the bus and returned to the hotel, the approach was in the second leg. That was the clear message to me.
Barry Ferguson blows the whistle during a training session for the euro crash
The former Rangers captain, Ferguson, gets involved in the training session with his players
Mourinho insisted that he was not “hurt” despite the 3-1 defeat in the first leg in Türkiye
'You must allow yourself to be happy with the performance and the result. But it would be an absolute idiot if I thought the game was over. There is no way to think about that.
The rangers are forcing to avoid a fourth successive defeat in Ibrox for the first time in their history after the defeats of Queen's Park, St Mirren and Motherwell, but Ferguson told their players that they must hug playing in front of their own fans.
“Listen, if you get this place to rust, it is a suitable place to play football,” he said. 'I told the boys that, and some of the team's boys have played European nights here.
'When you leave with a certain attitude to the game, there is no better place to play football.
I've been here this season; Lyon, the Tottenham game. I have been in the previous ones, and the place is electric.
'We need to turn on that fire in the stands, that is what we should start doing. As a manager, I can't wait. You have to be excited about this.