It is becoming a bit of a running theme, Philippe Clement singling out one of Rangers’ summer signings for praise.
The Ibrox boss was certainly complimentary of Connor Barron following the hard-fought draw with Hearts in last weekend’s Scottish Premiership curtain-raiser, even if he felt the former Aberdeen man had not quite hit the same heights as he had in pre-season.
This time, Rangers getting off the mark for both the season and the league campaign with a 2-1 triumph over Motherwell, Clement needed no prompting as he again mentioned Barron by name.
In fact, the former Monaco coach was asked to comment on the performance of Vaclav Cerny, another of the club’s new faces.
Rangers win as Vaclav Cerny and Connor Barron shine
Cerny grabbed his first goal for the club since joining on loan from Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg.
Those who watched the silky Czech Republic international strike fear into the heart of Eredivisie defenders alongside Danilo and Robin Propper would not have been surprised about the nature of Cerny’s finish, brilliantly converted from the edge of the penalty area.
But after he was done hailing Cerny, Clement quickly turned to a 21-year-old who again played with an aggression and a maturity far beyond his age.
“That’s why we got him here! So that’s the idea,” Clement told Sky Sports when asked to comment on the eventual matchwinner Cerny.
“Also to to strengthen the squad and to get players in with with quality and experience next to our our young boys, who did also a really good game like Conor Baron for example.
“(Barron produced) a good game in the midfield. You see more and more the automatism we try to create.”
Barron excelled against Hearts but took his game to another level against Motherwell. The Scotland Under 21 international already appears to be forming a very strong partnership with Mohamed Diomande in the centre of the park.
It was Diomande, meanwhile, who headed the ball back across the face of goal for Cyriel Dessers to open the scoring, 11 minutes before Cerny’s stunning clincher.
The frustration for Clement, however, is that Rangers did not really press home their advantage, ensuring a nervy finale.
Glasgow giants get off the mark against Motherwell
“The second-half, we should have scored a third goal and then you you kill the belief of the opponent,” adds Clement. “Then, it’s a different end to the game
“But we didn’t give away much. Jack (Butland) didn’t have to make too many saves, or almost nothing. So it’s it’s a positive afternoon for sure in between two European games.”
On a far happier weekend for the Glasgow giants, there was also a first appearance in that famous blue shirt for Robin Propper.
After John Souttar and Ben Davies struggled with the pace and physicality of Hearts in Edinburgh, the former FC Twente captain showed why Clement was so keen to bring him to Britain with a typically solid display at the heart of the backline.
Rangers are now due to face Dynamo Kiev in the second leg of their Champions League third-round qualifier on Tuesday night.
