Liam Kelly has fully justified his manager’s decision to select him in front of Jack Butland – saving a late penalty to keep bilba athletic at a distance during a dramatic evening of the Europa League action in Ibrox.
Forced to play a light man for 77 minutes after the dismissal of Robin Propper, Barry Ferguson’s team refused to give in even when the Dujon Sterling injury allowed them to finish the first stage of this quarter -final with nine men.
And a heroic effort was illustrated by Kelly saving the penalty of Alex Berenguer in the 79th minute – a few moments after the replacement thought that he had opened the scoring in a bizarre game period which saw his effort initially given, then excluded the offside before receiving one with spective courtesy of the short duration of the sterling.
After the draw 0-0, Kelly said: “I never had much to do in the game. Once we went down to 10 men, the guys in front of me were absolutely brilliant.
“We didn’t really know what was going on (after Bilbao scored) and then suddenly you hear” penalty “. I just wanted to help the team, I don’t really care about myself.
Ferguson, on the other hand, was categorical that Butland always has a future at the club despite his abandonment in favor of Kelly.
The goalkeeper Liam Kelly famous while keeping a white leaf against Athletic Bilbao in Ibrox
Kelly saves the penalty of Alex Berenguer during the first stage of their quarter -final of the Europa League
Rangers’ boss, Barry Ferguson, had to reshape his side after Robin Propper was sent
“It was one of the most difficult things I had to do,” he said.
“First of all, I think Jack Butland is a superior goalkeeper. Second, I have a very, very good relationship with Jack.
“I have known Jack for a long time. He was a young child who came by Birmingham when I went down to play for Birmingham in the Premier League.
“Third, I should know that it hurts Jack and I must also be aware of it. Because I want him.
“I just had to make a decision and it was a difficult decision when I told him. I could see that it hurt.
“It is not the one I decided on Saturday evening or Sunday. I thought a long time and hard on this subject. When I spoke to him, it was a difficult conversation of 10 to 15 minutes.
“But, listen, Jack still has a huge role to play here. Regarding Liam, I thought he had done well tonight.
Although Ferguson knows that the Basques will be imagined to finish work at home next Thursday, he feels that the spirit that his team has shown should apply that they can still progress to the semi-finals.
“I am really proud of the effort and the commitment that my players have shown,” he said.
“It’s difficult when you go down to 10 men. “They have had a few chances as all the very good teams will have against you, but I thought we defended very well.
“We are still in the tie. The tie is there to enter and try to go to the semi-finals.
Ferguson obtained the reaction he wanted after the weekend defeat against Hibs, but the standards stressed could no longer be allowed to slip.
“Yeah, I’m not happy with a match,” he added. “I am delighted for them and I am proud of them.
“Standing on the touchline was a totally different feeling that I had on Saturday. I felt empty on Saturday. But standing there, I was proud.
Ferguson said he had no problem with the decision to show again to take a red card. “I can see the reason why the referee gave the red card,” he said.
