Philippe Clement has impressed in his press conferences since being appointed Glasgow Rangers 19th permanent manager. He exudes confidence and speaks with authority, and his unwillingness to make grand statements or outlandish promises has encouraged a sceptical fanbase.
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Philippe Clement Seeks Optimism at Glasgow Rangers
Philippe Clement Targets Stability at Glasgow Rangers
The Belgian is the fourth Rangers manager within the last two years – an unusually high turnover in personnel for a club keen to stress the importance of stability. The Ibrox faithful have grown weary at the revolving door in the manager’s office and broken promises and underachievement that have underpinned the last few seasons of disappointment. The former Monaco boss will require time to make his mark, but gradual signs of improvement, coupled with a clear style of play, are necessary immediately.
Clement Inherits Imbalanced Squad At Rangers
The Belgian, tasked with rejuvenating an imbalanced squad lacking belief, only needs to enter the treatment room at Auchenhowie to comprehend the scale of the mess he inherited. An inability to keep players fit has been a longstanding problem for Rangers. The new manager has limited options available – barely a recognisable winger at his disposal – yet the lack of creativity is only partially due to absentees.
Read More: Michael Beale on Borrowed Time
A dreadful summer recruitment drive under Michael Beale has left the new manager with an expensively assembled squad lacking quality. Until the January window, he has little option but to put a sticking plaster on a gaping wound. His immediate and most pressing task is to extract more from the players at his disposal and reverse falling trajectories.
A Never-Ending Injury List
Rangers welcome Hibernian to Ibrox on October 21. The manager will acknowledge the acclaim from the stands before the action commences. The toxic atmosphere, the lasting memory of the Beale era, will be replaced with quiet optimism. The players, though, have little goodwill left with the fans, especially established and longstanding squad members. It’s hard to shake the feeling that James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, and Ryan Jack, amongst others, have to ensure Clement is a roaring success if they wish to prolong their stay at the club.
Immediate Targets Clear For Clement
Hibs are rarely unnerved by a trip to Ibrox. They have an abundance of pace and talent to make it a difficult afternoon for threadbare opposition. The first team selection of a new manager is often an indicator of his direction of travel, but a lack of options ensures little will be garnered or concluded from his starting XI.
Read More: Rangers need Europa League Pick-Me-Up
It is a hectic schedule for Clement leading into the next international break. His obvious target until then is to ensure the seven-point gap to Celtic does not increase. Overseeing a sharp upturn in European performances and securing a place in the League Cup final will also feature prominently on his to-do list.
The pressure is immediate, the fixture list relentless, but that’s life at Rangers.
