Rangers’ Europa League hopes suffered another major blow after a damaging defeat to Ferencvaros, with opposition manager Robbie Keane declaring his side were “much better” and fully deserving of all three points. The Scottish Premiership side have now collected just one point from their opening six league-stage matches, leaving their chances of progression hanging by a thread.

Despite taking a controversial lead in Budapest—courtesy of Bojan Miovski’s acrobatic volley being reinstated by VAR—Rangers collapsed under pressure as goals from Bence Otvos and Barnabas Varga sealed a 2–1 victory for the Hungarian champions. For Keane, the win was not only deserved but reflective of his team’s dominance throughout the match.

Ferencvaros Outplay Rangers from Start to Finish

Robbie Keane, a former Celtic striker, did not hold back in his assessment of the match.
The Irishman insisted Ferencvaros controlled the game from the opening whistle:

“It would have been a tragedy if we didn’t get anything out of the game,” Keane said. “We were the better team from the start. I don’t think Rangers deserved their goal.”

Keane also questioned the VAR decision that awarded Rangers the opener, but he made it clear that the result felt “a lot sweeter,” even if he claimed not to have focused on the rivalry element.

With this win, Ferencvaros have nearly secured qualification from their group, while Rangers now need a miracle involving big results against Ludogorets and Porto in January.

Rangers’ Defensive Errors Prove Costly Yet Again

Manager Danny Rohl was left furious at how his side conceded both goals, describing them as preventable and symptomatic of recurring defensive failings.

Otvos’ equaliser came after slick build-up play from Ferencvaros, but the midfielder was inexplicably left unmarked in the box. The second goal, however, was far more concerning for Rangers supporters.

A simple long ball exploited a huge defensive gap. Callum O’Dowda sent in a cross, and centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez completely lost track of Varga, who headed home the winner with ease.

Fernandez was visibly frustrated with himself after the mistake, placing his hands on his head moments after the ball hit the net.

Rohl did not single out individuals but made clear his disappointment:

“I’m very angry about our conceded goals. We were solid in the first half, we take the lead, but our mistakes cost us again. We are not clinical enough in key moments.”

Ferencvaros Could Have Scored More

While Rangers lamented their defensive issues, Ferencvaros wasted multiple chances to extend their lead. They had 13 shots inside the Rangers penalty area, with striker Bamidele Yusuf missing several clear opportunities—including potential hat-trick chances in the first half.

Rangers, by contrast, struggled to create danger. Their seven shots marked their lowest attacking output in any Europa League match this season.

Keane brushed off questions about Rangers’ performance, choosing instead to celebrate his own team:

“I knew they were going to play three at the back, but I’m not bothered about them. I knew we’d always score—we were brilliant tonight, everyone on the pitch.”

Fans React: Harsh Criticism of Rangers’ Defence

Rangers supporters expressed frustration and disbelief after another disappointing evening in Europe. Many pointed to the centre-back pairing of Fernandez and Nasser Djiga as a major weakness:

• Paul: “Fernandez and Djiga are a complete bombscare. They don’t know how to defend.”
• Craig: “Rangers are completely inept at defending. It’s the same story every game.”
• Brian: “Fernandez is one of the worst players I’ve ever seen.”
• Alexander: “This defending is worse than schoolboy level.”
• Jimmy: “January can’t come soon enough to fix the defence.”

With fans losing patience and Rangers’ Europa League campaign close to collapse, Rohl faces a significant challenge in turning things around.