There doesn’t seem to be a happy medium for Rangers this season, certainly not in Europe for Philippe Clement anyway.
With the Europa League league phase at matchday four, the manager will be content with how his squad responded to defeat against Lyon with a thumping win over FCSB.
Up next, is Olympiacos and a trip to Greece to face a side not in their best form and missing a player to face Rangers who was once offered to Man Utd.
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Olympiacos lose playmaker ahead of Rangers clash
Signed as a free agent, Yusuf Yazici was being touted around some of the continent’s biggest clubs and had his name passed to Erik ten Hag as a possible option.
Instead, the 45-times Turkey international moved closer to home only to see his return to action cut cruelly short after just one appearance.
Olympiacos manager Jose Luis Mendilibar revealed that the 27-year old is going to be out of action for some time:
“Everything indicates he has suffered a cruciate ligament injury, but we have to wait until the swelling goes down to assess the length of time he will be out.
“It is a huge disappointment to him and to us.”
What Rangers players are missing for the Europa League?
In a similar situation to Rangers with Ianis Hagi, Yazici wasn’t registered in time to make the Europa League squad cut off.
Clement inherited a problem last season with the Europa League squad, however, this season, the summer’s recruitment played a role in what is a far from ideal situation.
Not only is Hagi unavailable, but Danilo has also been left out, two players who cost a combined £9m who can’t be called up against the likes of Man Utd and Tottenham Hotspur when depth of quality could be the difference.
As with Olympiacos and their loss of Yazici, all it takes is for Mohamed Diomande or Nedim Bajrami to get injured and Rangers will have a real problem in terms of creativity.
