Barry Ferguson praised his Rangers players for showing the character that was questioned this season after they had fallen past Fenerbahce after an Epic Europa League collision.
Rangers suffered a fourth consecutive defeat at Ibrox, but founded a quarterfinals against Athletic Bilbao after Jack Butland saved two penalties in a 3-2 shoot-out Triumph.
Goals in every half of the 90 minutes of Sebastian Szymanski had wiped Rangers' 3-1 lead from the first leg after the men of Ferguson had missed the opportunities to lay the draw beyond the Turkish side.
There were almost mistakes at both ends before and during extra time and Rangers kept their season alive in the shoot-out.
Interim head coach Ferguson said: “I actually thought we played well. The two goals that we could have done better, but the only thing I have to say, and it is leveled against the players, they showed character.
“It is easy to feel sorry for yourself, but they have continued. And clearly you get into the criminal situation and I thought we treated that very well.
“The main goal was to ensure that I got this club in the last eight and that is something we did.
“Do not underestimate what happened there. We met a top team. I knew after last Thursday that this was in no way a foregone conclusion.
“I went to all matches this season and that was something when I looked at Rangers, great if they continue, but when something goes against them, they went into their shell a bit.
“[Tonight] They continued to drive and we showed a little courage. They continued to run into the ground.
“I told them, maybe some people will now start thinking that these guys have something about them. And that was one of my goals when I came in to take the job.”
Ferguson has been in charge of four games since following Philippe Clement, won against Motherwell in the first match and is now progressing in Europe.
“Many people said I was not qualified or the right man for the job,” he added. “I try to do the best and give everything for three months.
“Players dig deep for me – the performance of tonight and the way they have behaved. Locked for players, board and fans.”
Mourinho Slams 'Strange' decisions
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho claimed that it was strange that his side did not get at least one penalty.
The visitors complained when Talisca was booked to dive after he seemed to be caught by Jefte on the edge of the box and Mourinho was booked after strong calls for a penalty fault against Nico Raskin.
The visitors then rely on an error against James Tavernier, but the skipper had received the ball with a sliding tackle.
Mourinho said: “We played a fantastic game. Only one team played, only one team scored, only one team earned to score more, only one team earned it to win.
“Only one team had three penalties that if you don't get three, you get two. If you don't get two, you get one. If you don't get any three, everything is strange.
“But it is also strange as we were beaten from the Champions League with a VAR penalty at minute 120.”
Mourinho continued referring to earlier controversy, building the last defeat of his Roma Side 2023 Europa League of Seville, after which he received a UEFA ban from four games for his criticism of the English referee Anthony Taylor.
Mourinho said: “The only thing that is still in mind is like everything that has happened to my team this season in Europe, if it has something to do with the final of the Budapest.
“I want to think that it has nothing to do with it, it's just bad luck, and nothing has to do with that. I want to think that way.”
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