Rangers' Emmanuel Fernandez Sees Silver Lining in European Exit

Rangers are riding high with seven wins in a row across all competitions, boasting five clean sheets along the way. As they gear up for a crucial match against Dundee on Saturday, they're eyeing the top spot in the Scottish Premiership, especially with Celtic facing Hearts on Sunday—both games will be available live on Sky Sports. Emmanuel Fernandez, the 25-year-old defender, is confident that their early European exit can serve as an advantage in the domestic league. Having been knocked out of the Europa League and Conference League qualifiers, the team has turned their focus solely on domestic success under new manager Derek McInnes. After a rocky start to the season, Rangers have transformed their form, currently sitting in second place and set to compete in the League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen. While Celtic and Hearts are occupied with European fixtures, the Ibrox side has enjoyed a full week of preparation for their upcoming clash, which gives them an edge. Fernandez shared his thoughts with Sky Sports News, stating, "100 percent, less games mean fewer injuries and more time to prepare for the weekends. We’re building a stronger bond as a group and that can only help us on the pitch." He acknowledged the challenges posed by a significant number of new signings, but feels the team is beginning to gel. "We’ve got past the transition phase and there’s definitely more connection forming, which is crucial for our performances," he added. The Nigerian international, who joined Rangers from Peterborough last July, admits he struggled initially but is now finding his rhythm, aided by a blossoming partnership with South African centre-back Olwethu Makhanya, who was named Scottish Premiership Player of the Month for September. Fernandez reflected, "I had a shaky start, but I’m getting back into my groove. I know there’s more to come, and I'm excited about it. Makhanya has been fantastic; having the right teammates around makes it easier to settle in and focus on your game." Despite their positive run, Fernandez remains aware of the room for improvement. After a recent 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock, he expressed disappointment at conceding a late goal that denied them a sixth clean sheet in seven matches. "That late goal was frustrating. We were so close to another clean sheet, and every goal conceded gives the opponent hope. We aim to keep limiting chances and strive to have the best defensive record in the league." With five games looming before the next international break, Fernandez is eager for the team to keep pushing and improving. "We’ve found our groove, but we know we can achieve more and we’re ready to put in the hard work to get there."