‘One of the worst displays I’ve ever seen’ – Rangers fans destroy one player after Ferencvaros defeat
Rangers fans did not hold back in their criticism of Emmanuel Fernandez after the defender’s display in Thursday’s defeat to Ferencvaros.
Despite having taken the lead through Bojan Miovski, Rangers lost 2-1 to Ferencvaros in the Europa League.
The North Macedonia international had opened the scoring with an audacious acrobatic effort before Bence Otvos levelled, and Barnabas Varga later found the winner.
Rangers hired Danny Rohl in October, with the German eventually winning a process following the departure of Russell Martin.
But in the former Sheffield Wednesday boss’s first game, Rangers lost 3-0 to Brann and now look set to exit the Europa League at the group stage, having failed to win any of the three fixtures since.
Rangers fans rip into Emmanuel Fernandez
With just one point from six games, Rangers would need a miracle to qualify for the Europa League play-offs now.
Even if Rohl‘s side were to beat Ludogorets and FC Porto, they would need to hope that Old Firm rivals Celtic lose both of their games, and the same for the four teams below.
Fernandez arrived at Rangers in the summer, and looked to be finding his feet in recent weeks amid several injuries at the back for the Gers.
Wednesday night saw the defender look very much out of his depth, however, and in a key moment, the 24-year-old let Varga slip past him to head home the winner for Ferencvaros.
Rangers fans were incensed by Fernandez’s performance, with X user Jord commenting: “Manny Fernandez has put in an all timer for one of the worst displays I’ve ever seen from a centre-back.”
Another said he was embarrassed to see the defender play for the Gers, placing him in the “worst defenders we’ve ever had” bracket.
A more balanced view read: “You can accept Manny Fernandez making mistakes as part of his development, but not to that extent. That’s basic defending and tracking your man.”
Martin commented: “Manny Fernandez never a defender in your life, rank, rotten.”
While another Rangers fan said the 24-year-old’s defending for the goal would be “up there with the worst you’ll see anywhere this season.”
Stats pain woeful picture for Fernandez
The stats do not work to make much better reading for Fernandez, who lost more duels than any other player on the pitch on Thursday.
Admittedly, it has been a difficult adaptation for Fernandez, who presumably did not expect to be starting for Rangers away in the Europa League when he was signed from League One in the summer.
| Emmanuel Fernandez | vs Ferencvaros |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Dispossessed | 1 |
| Tackles | 3 |
| Clearances | 6 |
| Dribbled past | 2 |
| Duels won | 9/19 |
But the fact remains. The Gers spent a reported £3.5million on the defender – a huge sum of money for a player evidently not close to the standard yet.
Fernandez did register several defensive contributions against Ferencvaros, but in the crucial moment, he was found lacking.