Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez said that the club’s early exit from European competition could give them an edge in the domestic title race. The 25‑year‑old, who joined the Ibrox side from Peterborough last summer, told Sky Sports News that having fewer fixtures means fewer injuries and more time to prepare for the weekend, which he believes will help the team gel and perform better.
Rangers have gone seven straight games unbeaten in all competitions, keeping five clean sheets in that run. The club sits second in the Scottish Premiership and will travel to Dundee on Saturday night in a match that could see them reclaim the top spot if they win. Celtic, who are currently league leaders, will face Hearts on Sunday, while Rangers’ own rivals Hearts host Nordsjaelland in the Conference League. With no European matches to juggle, Rangers have a free week to focus on the league and the League Cup semi‑final against Aberdeen at Hampden.
Fernandez explained that the lack of European fixtures also allows the squad to build cohesion. “We’ve had a lot of new signings this window, and now that we’re past that phase, we can connect better in training and on the pitch,” he said. He added that the team’s recent form is a result of that growing understanding, and that the club still needs to maintain the same focus in every game, even with a week off.
The centre‑back also praised the partnership he has developed with fellow defender Olwethu Makhanya, who arrived from Philadelphia Union in the summer and won the Premiership Player of the Month award for September. Fernandez said that having a familiar teammate helped him settle and return to his best level after a shaky start to the season. “Makhanya is amazing. When I was new, it was hard to settle, but having teammates like him helps you get into games easier and perform without distraction,” he said.
Despite the positive momentum, Fernandez admitted that the team still has room for improvement. He was frustrated by a late goal conceded in a 3‑1 win over Kilmarnock, which denied the club a sixth consecutive clean sheet. “Conceding a goal gives the opposition another chance to think they can score,” he explained. “We want to keep the fewest goals in the league, and we’ll continue to work on that in training.” With five league games before the next international break, the Rangers look to build on their current form and push for the title while also preparing for the upcoming League Cup semi‑final.