It has been an ideal week for Barry Ferguson, too.
Having been within the managerial wilderness after unimpressive stints at Clyde, Kelty Hearts and Alloa Athletic, he has guided Rangers previous Fenerbahce right into a Europa League quarter-final and a primary win at Celtic Park since October 2020.
He’s the primary Rangers supervisor to win his opening derby at Celtic Park since Walter Smith in 1991.
It nonetheless feels early for Rangers to be making selections on who can be their subsequent everlasting supervisor, significantly with a possible takeover looming.
Nonetheless, Ferguson made the daring name to alter the formation to a again three for the primary leg in Turkey, and it has paid off within the final week.
Away from the pitch, he has reduce a relaxed determine in entrance of the digital camera and has been clear in his messaging.
Whereas his predecessor Philippe Clement typically pointed to a congested schedule and managing minutes, the previous Ibrox captain named 10 of the identical 11 which began the energy-sapping midweek triumph and was clear tiredness was no excuse.
There’s a lot extra to managing Rangers or Celtic than understanding the character of soccer in Glasgow, however it counts for one thing on this distinctive rivalry.
“I knew there was a great staff right here,” Ferguson instructed BBC Scotland. “They had been simply lacking a little bit of self-belief, and needed to be pushed on a bit extra.
“The boys pay attention, they tune in, and over the previous 10 days you’ve got actually seen the advantages of that.”
Ferguson continues to insist come the tip of the season he can be “away on a household vacation” and is “not even pondering” about staying on past his interim contract.
However it won’t cease others contemplating it, significantly if he will get extra consistency from this squad.
“It is an enormous win for Barry and his employees,” Arfield stated. “He is making an enormous problem to get the job [full-time]. He is received Rangers to the quarter-finals of the Europa League and now received at Celtic Park.
“It is advisable know what you are doing to outsmart this Celtic staff and it has been evident right this moment.”
