Sport Fatih Terim makes Rangers 'no fear' vow as Galatasaray boss admits coefficient 'knife-edge'

Legendary Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim admits the hopes on a nation rest on his team's shoulders as the head for Ibrox on Thursday.

The Turks face Rangers for a place in the Europa League but the match will also have huge implications for the national co-efficient for both countries.

Scotland sitting just one place behind Turkey in 12th place on the European coefficients.

The top 11 nations in the rankings are guaranteed direct entry into the Champions League - with a second team getting access to the second round of the qualifying competition.

Hibernian 2-2 Rangers: Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers take draw

Rangers conceded for the first time in their eighth match of the Scottish Premiership season before Christian Doidge headed a late leveller after goals from Alfredo Morelos and Scott Arfield but they were denied victory by a Christian Doidge header.Gerrard's men go back to the top of the table by a point but, having played a game more than Celtic, will worry they have handed the title initiative to Neil Lennon's champions.Hibs have now gone nine games without a win against Rangers but do hold on to third spot.

Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim has tested positive for coronavirus, he has announced on Twitter. Terim , who has also managed Italian clubs AC Milan and Fiorentina and the Turkish national side, is 66 years old. He said: “According to the test results made today, my Corona Virus result was positive.

boss set to sign 'soon'. Galatasaray said it had begun talks with Fatih Terim on him becoming the team's coach for what would be the fourth time, after spells in charge of both Galatasaray and the national team and left his job in charge of Turkey in July after being involved in a brawl in a west coast

And 67-year-old Terim - who has managed Turkey three times and is in his fourth spell as Galatasaray boss, as well as stints in charge of AC Milan and Fiorentina - has vowed to keep Turkey ahead of Scotland in the rankings.

He said: "I take the Europa League very seriously. We will meet tough opponents when we go to Glasgow to face Rangers.

© Michael Regan / Getty Fatih Terim manager of Galatasaray looks on

"In this game, we are not just playing for Galatasaray, we are playing for Turkey.

"I am well aware it's on a knife-edge between Turkey and Scotland and if we fail, the country fails.

"Galatasaray will go out and play with no fear and we know what the financial rewards are for qualifying for the group stages too.

"The situation at this club has been well documented. We cannot buy any new players until we sell some. The days of going out and spending big money are over for now.

Willem II 0-4 Rangers: Kent stars in Europa League qualifier win

Inspired by the excellent Ryan Kent, who scored and had two assists, a play-off against Galatasaray in Glasgow next week was comfortably secured by Rangers. They now stand just 90 minutes away from a third successive season in the Europa League group stage. Aside from prestige, the £2.5million of UEFA prize money on offer for qualification would be very welcome as Scottish football faces up to the absence of fans in grounds for the foreseeable future.Kent won the penalty that was converted by James Tavernier before netting himself prior to the break.

Galatasaray said it had begun talks with Fatih Terim on him becoming the team's coach for what would be the fourth time, after the Istanbul club parted ways with Croatian Igor Tudor on Monday. Galatasaray made the announcement in a statement to the Istanbul stock exchange late on Thursday.

Terim is undoubtably Galatasaray ’s leader. On the wall of the office stands a huge photo of him stood in front of a wall of flares at Galatasaray ’s Turk Telecom Today, we have fields of expertise focused on making players’ lives easier, helping with their physical and mental development, managing their

"We weren't at our best against Hajduk Split and we took some risks. But the important thing was to win the game and we need to be at our best in Scotland."

Video: Steven Gerrard looks ahead to Rangers clash against Willem II (Daily Record)