"Athletic are the favourites for the Europa League title": Rangers boss Ferguson

Rangers coach Barry Ferguson stated on Wednesday that Athletic Bilbao, their opponents on Thursday, are the favourites to win the Europa League. "I'd say they're the favourites for the title," Ferguson said.

"It's going to be difficult for us, but these are the matches that, as a player and a coach, you want to be involved in. You want to be there, playing against the best. They are a team with a lot of quality, but I've told my players in recent days - this is what being a footballer is all about," he added.

With the league title out of reach, Rangers are hoping to replicate their three-year-old Europa League run, when they reached the final.

"In my opinion, Athletic are a team with quality in every position. On the wings, they have the brothers; in midfield, they're technically excellent and hardworking, and defensively, they're very solid. So we know that to get a good result, we'll need to be at our best," Ferguson said.

Ferguson had already led his team in the penalty shootout victory over Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce in the previous round, but now faces an even greater challenge, with the second leg away and Athletic motivated by the fact that the final will be played at San Mames.