Philippe Clement, with defensive injuries threatening to further derail Rangers’ season, has challenged those replacements to step up in the absence of a few senior men.
Clement has been delighted with Ridvan Yilmaz’s displays in an unfamiliar right-back role. The absence of Tom Lawrence has helped enable Ianis Hagi to make a triumphant return to the Rangers XI, meanwhile.
Even the seldom-seen Leon King made an appearance with Leon Balogun, John Souttar, Dujon Sterling and Neraysho Kasanwirjo out of action.
But Clinton Nsiala is emerging as perhaps the biggest winner from a period of defensive instability. Clement lauded Nsiala as the Premiership debutant impressed at Dundee last week. And, six days later, he went one better as Rangers cruised past Aberdeen at Ibrox.
Not only did the former AC Milan starlet secure the first clean sheet of his Gers career, Clinton Nsiala even provided an assist with his inch-perfect delivery from the left-hand side powered home by fellow centre-half Balogun after the Dons half-cleared Rangers’ initial corner.
Leon Balogun hails Clinton Nsiala’s Rangers impact after Aberdeen win
Only the third goal of his Gers career gift-wrapped and served up on a silver platter, no wonder Balogun was keen to sing Nsiala’s praises at full-time.
“Clinton has done tremendously well,” Balogun says of a defender 17 years his junior. “He was really, really good today.
“Hats off to the boy.”
Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart spoke out in support of Clement over the weekend, with the Belgian repaying that trust with one of the club’s most coherent, threatening performances in a while.
Mustering a colossal 29 shots and 65 per cent of the possession, the eventual 3-0 scoreline – secured by stoppage-time goals from Balogun and Cyriel Dessers – almost does the extent of Rangers’ domination a disservice.
“The connection with the fans at the end [was the most pleasing thing],” Clement says, praising those who stayed until the final whistle on another night of supporter protests.
“It was almost full domination of the game. That’s what we’ve been working towards for months. We’ve done that in moments but not enough.”
Philippe Clement lauds Nsiala and Ridvan Yilmaz
Clement then turned to Nsiala, hailing the summer signing for the second time in a week.
“I’m really proud of Clinton Nsiala because of all the work he’s been doing in recent months with the B team and in training,” Clement smiles.
“Also a lot of praise towards Ridvan playing on that [right-hand] side against these clubs. How he’s performing, same way for Clinton Nsiala coming in with no experience at this level.
“And also, [I must] praise to all the staff working with all these young guys to get them really fast in the story and to learn things really fast, because there’s no room for error here.
“We could have scored more. We had enough chances. We weren’t efficient enough. We hit the bar and post as well. We knew we had to kill off the opponent, otherwise they can score with one chance.
“But we kept pushing.”
