It was no surprise which of Rangers’ Europa League heroes dominated Philippe Clement’s press conference following Thursday’s stunning 4-1 win at Nice.
On a real coming of age night for the summer signing, Hamza Igamane trebled his Rangers tally in the space of just six short minutes either side of half-time.
It’s fair to say that Philippe Clement’s team selection – eyebrows were raised when Igamane was chosen ahead of Cyriel Dessers against the Ligue 1 outfit – was emphatically justified on an evening in which the 22-year-old Moroccan repaid the faith shown in him by Nils Koppen and co.
Koppen used Igamane as an example of Rangers’ desire to think outside the box in pursuit of transfer bargains. And, while that brace will be the abiding memory of another glorious night in Europe for those on the blue side of the Glasgow divide, Clement was keen to highlight the other, unselfish role Igamane played in the most unexpected of four-goal victories across the Channel.
Igamane has been likened to a young Alfredo Morelos at times. And the way he bullied and harried the Nice defence was certainly reminiscent of those ‘El Bufalo in a china shop’ days; pressing ferociously, linking the play and, most crucially, taking those chances when they fell at his feet.
Igamane even set up Vaclav Cerny’s deflected 35th minute opener at the Allianz Riviera.
- READ MORE: Rangers Europa League Record Since 2017
Philippe Clement lauds Rangers’ Europa League hero Hamza Igamane
“[I told him] that this was not an exam for him, that he’s making the good steps. He gets the chance also because he’s proving the right things in the training with his work attitude, with the things he does with the ball,” a jubilant Clement told reporters at full-time.
“But he was crucial today to win the duels. It was crucial in this game against Nice to do that because they’re really strong in pressing one-on-one. If you don’t have this high support to win duels, you don’t come in the game because you’re all the time pressured. You cannot keep the ball.
“So it was a massive, important role that he had today and he did it brilliantly. But brilliantly in the way that he’s been training also on that the last couple of weeks, months. So it’s good that fans, that you guys also start to see the potential that is in this group.”
Of course, there was an element of fortune about Igamane’s first of the evening. Intercepting a dreadful back pass, he wolfed around the Nice goalkeeper and slotted home.
Igamane’s second, however, was all his own work. A delightful nutmeg and a cool finish into the far corner; a sublime solo effort that would not have looked out of place in the Champions League, let alone the Europa.
And Clement feels that, with Igamane finally arriving in a Rangers shirt, the club’s dramatic summer summer shake-up – various experienced campaigners departing and replaced by little-known imports – is one big step closer to being justified.
- READ MORE: Rangers Transfer History 2016-Present
Rangers’ summer signing shines in 4-1 Nice hammering
“I understand that there were a lot of questions about some decisions,” Clement accepts. “In the summer we had a lot of talks about that. We had to cut the wages so much. So we had to fish in a pool also that is maybe less clear for fans and for journalists.
“But I think Hamza showed already the potential he has for the future and that he can become an important Rangers player. But I want to see this hunger and desire to become better and then I will give chances to young players.
“I don’t mind their age. It’s about what they perform in training and in the game.”
