Rangers started their Europa League campaign in fine style as Philippe Clement oversaw yet another impressive away performance.
The manager is starting to see progress throughout the squad but knows that there is still a lot of work to be done if he is to bring silverware back to Ibrox.
Whilst domestic success remains the priority for Rangers, it is hard to ignore the start that the big Belgian has made on the continent as one stunning statistic shows.
- READ MORE: Rangers Europa League Squad 2024/25
Philippe Clement continues impressive Rangers statistic
When he inherited Rangers last season, it looked like a first group stage exit since Steven Gerrard’s tenure was on the cards until positive results against Sparta Prague and Real Betis away from home helped to secure top spot.
The last 16 draw wasn’t particularly kind, however, Clement sent Rangers out to go toe-to-toe with Benfica on their own turf.
But for a needless own goal by Connor Goldson, the Light Blues might have taken a one-goal lead back to Ibrox.
A draw in the Estadio da Luz is never a bad result though.
This season, an early exit from Champions League qualifying was a blow.
Had the second leg been at Ibrox and the referee not intervened in the most fatal fashion, things might have been different.
A 1-1 draw away from home had set up a blockbuster second leg.
With Malmo put to the sword, Philippe Clement’s away record in Europe now reads; played five, won three, drawn two, lost nil, against Malmo, Dynamo Kyiv, Benfica, Real Betis and Sparta Prague.
The Europa League fixture list was not kind to Rangers and more results like these will be needed to secure progress.
Clement has Rangers heading in the right direction
Speaking after the well-deserved 2-0 win over Malmo, Clement was clearly happy with what he had seen:
“It’s difficult to single players out. It’s true that keeping a clean sheet is very important, but also building well and keeping the ball well.
“The midfield was really solid and our wingers were really dangerous; they would have wanted to score more.
“They will score more goals this season and Cyriel [Dessers] played a massive game as a high support.
“I’m very pleased about Ross also, scoring a very important goal to kill the belief. He’s been working for months on his left foot and getting better shots in that way.
“We’ve seen him grow in the past weeks and months also. And then you get the rewards during the game if you put in the work in training.”
Things are starting to come together.
The narrative surrounding Rangers so far this season has been a strange one.
With Rangers in control, Jefte’s red card completely changed the home tie against Dynamo Kyiv and Tynecastle is never an easy place to go to.
Clement will be the first to accept that he didn’t get everything right at Parkhead but the players also have to put their hands up – none of them emerged with any credit.
The rest of the domestic fixtures have seen a gradual improvement.
In six games, Rangers have scored 14 and conceded one outside of the Old Firm – more goals should have been scored.
Under any circumstances, that is good form.
Problems off the pitch, the fiasco with Ibrox has seen a dark cloud hover over the club for most of the summer, finally, it looks like those clouds are breaking.
