No one could ever accuse Rangers boss Philippe Clement of underestimating the significance of Champions League football at Ibrox.
Ahead of August’s crucial qualifier against Dynamo Kyiv, Clement highlighted the immense value of securing a place at Europe’s top table. He emphasized not only what it would mean for a club of Rangers’ storied tradition but also the broader benefits it would bring to Scottish football, offering unparalleled exposure on the continental stage.
The financial stakes were equally critical. While money may not be the romantic focus for fans yearning for simpler times, the reported £12 million Rangers stood to gain from Champions League qualification was a game-changer.
Unfortunately, a controversial red card for Jefte led to a crushing defeat against Dynamo Kyiv, condemning Rangers to another season in the Europa League. While it’s not the Champions League, it’s a step above the often-criticized Conference League.
Incidentally, the Conference League could soon be the destination for Ferencvaros, should former Ibrox-linked Pascal Jansen fail to guide the Hungarian side past league leaders Puskas Akademia in the coming months.
Former Rangers Target Pascal Jansen Struggles to Impress at Ferencvaros
Pascal Jansen’s Ferencvaros reign is under scrutiny, with the manager himself admitting that Champions League qualification was the ultimate goal. However, a 3-1 aggregate loss to Midtjylland dashed those hopes, with Ferencvaros exiting Europe at the same stage as Rangers in August.
Adding to the pressure, Ferencvaros’ six-year dominance of the Hungarian league is at serious risk. If Jansen cannot turn things around, his side may miss out on even the Champions League qualifiers for the 2024/25 season.
Ferencvaros Boss Pascal Jansen Under Fire Despite Close Title Race
After finishing 16 points clear last season, Ferencvaros’ dominance is being challenged under Pascal Jansen. While their points-per-game tally remains steady, league leaders Puskas Akademia’s blistering form has turned up the heat on the former AZ Alkmaar manager just months into his two-year deal.
According to Eurosport, “fans often demand Pascal Jansen’s head,” as unexpected stumbles and a lack of confidence have plagued the team. Despite being only one point behind Puskas, Jansen’s win rate of just over 55% makes him statistically the least successful Ferencvaros coach since Ricardo Moniz’s tenure over a decade ago.
Former AZ Boss Pascal Jansen Admits He Was ‘Flattered’ by Rangers Interest
Pascal Jansen was reportedly a top target for Rangers before Philippe Clement took over from Mick Beale 14 months ago. The former AZ Alkmaar coach later told Sky Sports that being linked with such a “massive club” left him “flattered.”
Despite guiding AZ to become the ‘best of the rest’ in the Eredivisie, questions lingered over whether Jansen had the credentials to rival Celtic for dominance in Scottish football. Those same doubts are now resurfacing as he faces pressure at Ferencvaros.
Eredivisie Expert Questions Pascal Jansen’s Credentials Amid Rangers Links
Eredivisie analyst Michael Bell didn’t hold back when discussing Pascal Jansen’s managerial style on the Football Oranje podcast, just before Jansen’s dismissal from AZ Alkmaar.
“I’m up and down on AZ. Sometimes I think they’re great, and Jansen is a really good coach. And then… you just want to shake him and say, ‘Do something different!’”
Bell said, criticizing Jansen’s reliance on the same starting XI week after week.Bell also highlighted frustrations from AZ fans, particularly over Jansen’s reluctance to give young talents a chance, adding: “When he was linked to Rangers, everyone said, ‘You might get results, but your young players won’t get a game.’”
Labeling Jansen as a “frustrating coach” who lacks the elite-level qualities of an Arne Slot, Bell concluded: “If he went to Rangers, he would have failed.”
Ferencvaros President Piles Pressure on Pascal Jansen Amid Growing Fan Frustration
It may be unfair to label Pascal Jansen as a failure at Ferencvaros. The Hungarian champions remain in contention for a seventh straight league title and are on course to reach the Europa League knockout stages, despite a humiliating 5-0 defeat to PAOK.
However, fan discontent is growing, echoing the frustrations that surfaced during Jansen’s time at AZ Alkmaar. Critics argue that his tenure has done little to suggest he could close the gap between Rangers and Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, should he ever find himself in Glasgow’s dugout. Ferencvaros’ president, meanwhile, has made it clear—he expects much more.
Ferencvaros President Gabor Kubatov Warns Pascal Jansen: “This Cannot Happen Again”
Ferencvaros president Gabor Kubatov isn’t sugarcoating the situation at the club. Despite decent stats on paper, including improved league points and promising European performances, recent humiliations have exposed underlying issues.
“It’s not good for Ferencvaros to concede ten goals in a week,” Kubatov told Nemzeti Sport, referring to back-to-back 5-goal thrashings by Debrecen and PAOK.
Acknowledging the lessons to be learned from such defeats, Kubatov demanded progress: “Are we moving fast enough? No, we should be moving forward in leaps and bounds.”
His message to Pascal Jansen was clear—improvement is non-negotiable.