1 week Ago By Andy Devlin
HE sat in the stands feeling helpless as ten man Rangers battled to a draw against Bilbao. Now Mohamed Diomande is ready to have his say in Thursday’s win-or-bust second leg. 2 Mohamed Diomande returned to the pitch for Rangers as a sub against Aberdeen Credit: Willie Vass 2 He missed the first leg due to a suspension Credit: Willie Vass The influential midfielder was suspended for last week’s Ibrox clash and went through every emotion known to man.
He insists he kicked every ball as his teammates dug deep to keep their Europa League hopes alive with a spirited 0-0 draw. Having helped Gers come back from two goals down at Pittodrie on Sunday, Diomande is now ready to shore up the midfield against Athletic Club. And, with a place in the semi-finals up for grabs, he believes Barry Ferguson ’s side have NOTHING to fear.
Read more Rangers stories SILENCED Athletic Bilbao boss in 'different story' call to critics ahead of Rangers clash EURO DREAM Barry Ferguson talks up Rangers' Europa League chances with game 'wide open' Diomande revealed: “For me, watching the game from the stands on Thursday, I think we have a chance to make it in Bilbao. “It was difficult for me to sit down, to not try to move for every action. “But I was really glad with what my team did, with the effort they put in, with the commitment and the fight they had for each other.
“I hope, I don't know what the starting eleven is going to be for Thursday, we still have that this week. Most read in Football SECOND CHANCE? 'He can't be ignored' - Scotland fans eye forgotten Celtic star for recall SILENCED Athletic Bilbao boss in 'different story' call to critics ahead of Rangers clash GUESSING GAME Rangers goal was ruled out after a GUESS says ex-Premier League ref BILL LECKIE Ferguson handed Dons a GIFT with team selection - they blew it in typical style “I'm going to give my best in training and I really hope I get a chance to play on Thursday and help my team. “It's going to be a massive challenge on Thursday but we can take great confidence from the results we’ve had.
Wild scenes outside Ibrox as hundreds of Rangers fans gather to set off fireworks and pyro before Athletic Bilbao clash “We all know we've done really well in our away games in Europe and this is going to be another one. “Like I said, we are really looking forward to it." This year’s Europa League Final is being staged in Bilbao.
Athletic Club - sitting fourth in La Liga - are favourites to advance on Thursday. But Rangers have been punching above their weight in this competition ever since Steven Gerrard led them back to the group stages. They famously made it all the way to the final in Seville in 2022 and Diomande insists the fans now expect at this level.
Draws against Olympiacos in Athens and Dynamo Kyiv in Lublin were bettered by wins in Malmo, Nice and Istanbul. Indeed, Gers’ only defeat away from home in Europe this season came against Manchester United at Old Trafford . It all adds up to their Gers’ growing sense of belonging.
A belief they can compete at this level - fearing nothing and no one. Ahead of this week’s clash in the Estadio de San Mames, Diomande insisted: “I think we have a big expectation on ourselves also. “From our side, I can't really speak for the other side because I don't know what pressure they have there and what they expect.
“Maybe they expect them to win . “But then we are also going there to win the game. We are trying to win the game.
“So there's going to be pressure on every side. It's going to be a good game, I hope. “I think they have some great individual players.
“I think my team-mates were able to deal with that, the individual players and the individual quality they had. “They are going to play at home and maybe they have their home advantage but then, like I said, they are going to be ready for the full fight. “We will be ready for the fight.
” At Pittodrie on Sunday, interim boss Ferguson made NINE changes to the side that started against Bilbao. Of the XI selected, only Liam Kelly will start in Spain on Thursday night. Yet it took reinforcements from the bench to secure a point at the death as Ianis Hagi spoiled Celtic ’s title party .
The Hoops were all set to celebrate four-in-a-row as Aberdeen led with just 30 seconds left. But with virtually the last kick of the ball, Hagi levelled to rescue a point and give ten man Gers a massive shot in the arm ahead of the all-important second leg. Diomande was one of those who came off the bench to help Gers turn it around against the Dons.
And he admits there’s no question Rangers had one eye on Athletic Club. He confessed: “Obviously, we have an important game also on Thursday. “It’s important for all of us because we want to achieve great things together as a team.
“The character we showed on Sunday, if we do the same on Thursday then we will have a chance and I'm looking forward to that. “I'll say it, I'll take the points we got. “It was tough because we were one man down for a lot of the game.
“We showed character and then we came back into the game and then we took a point home. “We can take a lot of confidence for Thursday, but Thursday was always going to take care of itself. “We came to Aberdeen to win the game also.
Read more on the Scottish Sun FAT PROFIT The murky underworld of Scotland’s ‘fat jab’ black market revealed 'CHEST BEATER' Sutton and Boyd clash live on TV over Ferguson's Gers manager credentials “We didn't come to try and lose or to draw. “We are happy to get 2-2 in the end, but we are not really celebrating the point.” Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page.
