Fernandez: No European football could boost Rangers' quest for domestic titles — SkimNews
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- Emmanuel Fernandez told Sky Sports News he is "100 per cent" convinced Rangers' lack of European football will aid their domestic challenge, citing fewer games, reduced injury risk and more time to build team cohesion after a summer of new signings.
- Rangers were knocked out of the Europa League and Conference League qualifiers early under boss Derek McInnes, but have since won seven consecutive matches in all competitions and recorded five clean sheets in that run.
- Rangers sit second in the Scottish Premiership and face Dundee on Saturday live on Sky Sports, with a win enough to return them to the top before Celtic host Hearts on Sunday.
- Celtic travel to face Benfica in the Europa League in Lisbon while third-placed Hearts host Nordsjaelland in the Conference League on Thursday, leaving Rangers with a free week to prepare.
- Fernandez is rebuilding his partnership with 22-year-old South African centre-back Olwethu Makhanya, who signed from Philadelphia Union in the summer and won the Scottish Premiership player of the month award for September.
- Fernandez, a Nigeria international who joined Rangers from Peterborough last July, conceded a late strike in the 3-1 win over Kilmarnock that denied Rangers a sixth clean sheet and said the squad still targets conceding the fewest goals in the league.
- Rangers are through to the League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden after their seven-match winning streak.
Why it matters: With Celtic and Hearts still juggling Europa League and Conference League fixtures while Rangers have a clear week, the Old Firm title race tilts on squad depth and freshness — and Fernandez is framing that gap as a tangible competitive edge rather than a consolation prize, just as his side can reclaim top spot this weekend.
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