Philippe Clement admits Abdallah Sima, Tom Lawrence and Jose Cifuentes are not at their best right now while Todd Cantwell is not playing in his ‘best position’.
The Ibrox boss came for criticism in some quarters after subbing Todd Cantwell off after just 36 minutes during Rangers’ 1-1 Europa League draw with Aris Limassol on Thursday night. But surely, if you’ve spotted a problem, the best solution is to try and fix it?
Ross McCausland’s better-late-than-never introduction in Cantwell’s place – a more natural winger on the right-hand side – brought about an immediate improvement in Rangers’ play, the 20-year-old firing home an equaliser early in the second half.
And, speaking to Rangers Review ahead of Sunday’s clash with St Mirren, Clement admitted that Cantwell’s initial inclusion in an ill-fitting right-wing role was borne out of necessity rather than desire, Scott Wright unavailable and McCausland only just out of the academy.
Philippe Clement sympathises with Todd Cantwell
“Todd’s best position is elsewhere. But we’re in a situation where we don’t have a lot of players on the right side” explains the former Monaco boss. “I know Todd’s best position is as a number 10 or more from the left side.
“I’m really happy with him what he’s shown for the team in the last couple of weeks because he played that position and he can play that position.”
Cantwell was not the only Rangers player who performed below his optimum level against Aris. Abdallah Sima was lively but wasteful on the left, Jose Cifuentes struggled to control things in the centre, and Tom Lawrence did not manage a repeat of previous game-breaking cameos off the bench.
Rangers host St Mirren
“We missed the last pass and we missed some freshness also at this level. I see Sima, the last two games, at a little bit lower level after the birth of his baby and less sleep, and maybe the occasion,” Clement adds.
“I also see Tom coming in but being less decisive than his first game. But he’s coming out of an injury. This made it more difficult.
“I want to see more vertical passing, I want to see more runs in behind the defence, I want to see more connection between players and we’re working hard on that. I explained a few things already, Rome is not built in one day.
“There is work to do, there are players coming into the team, there are players returning from injury like Cifu, (who) is not playing at his best level in tempo. That also decides the tempo of the game, how your midfield is playing.”
