With Philippe Clement hailing the growing understanding between two of Rangers’ most in-form players, it is tempting to wonder if those concerns were aired a little prematurely.
Heading into Thursday’s Europa League matchday two clash with French giants Lyon, Rangers have kept clean sheets in six of the last seven games in all competitions.
That Celtic collapse suddenly feels less like a worrying premonition of disasters to come, and more like a rare blot on an impressive defensive copybook.
Robin Propper and John Souttar had only played together three times before Clement’s team travelled across Glasgow to Parkhead. So perhaps it was to be expected that a new-look partnership would struggle to deal with the quality and speed of Celtic’s fearsome frontline.
It is now almost three weeks since Rangers legend Barry Ferguson urged Clement to re-call Leon Balogun.
And while Clement cannot praise the veteran highly enough for his performances on the training pitch, Rangers’ backline almost picks itself these days.
And if it ain’t broke, as they say, then why split up a duo who have provided a platform for Rangers to bounce back from a sluggish start to a season that – given the sheer number of incomings and outgoings – was always likely to be a transitional one?
- READ MORE: Rangers Europa League Record Since 2017
Philippe Clement hails Rangers duo Robin Propper and John Souttar
“It’s better and better,” Clement said at his pre-match press conference when asked about the Propper and Souttar connection.
“We also have Leon Balogun still there who is excellent in his role, showing quality in training. We have Nana [Neraysho Kasanwirjo] who can play centre-back, or Dujon [Sterling].
“The [Propper and Souttar] partnership has been good. And it’s also important with new players, you create connections and a partnership so they can get to know each other.
“You can add [left-back] Jefte also in that way. Half of the defence is new. Our number six is new. So you need to find the balance which is better and better.
“What is true is if you take the lessons out of every debrief, and they are really hungry to get better, to make fewer mistakes. You see it’s positive we have four clean sheets in a row.”
While Rangers rode their luck in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Hibernian – Jack Butland saved a second-half penalty – the experienced goalkeeper has been more of a spectator in recent weeks.
He did not have a save to make against Dundee United and was barely involved either as Rangers put down an early Europa League marker away to Malmo.
Propper talks up Souttar understanding as Rangers prepare for Lyon
“I really enjoyed it,” former FC Twente captain Propper told reporters after Nedim Bajrami and Ross McCausland struck in Sweden. “Our fans were amazing so it was really nice to see. This is how I imagined it, playing for Rangers.
“We want to show what we can do in European nights, and we have a good team to do that. You have to confirm the things you see on the training pitch and I think we did that today. [We created] a lot of good chances to make maybe more goals, and we were defending I think really well.
“Maybe one good chance from them against us. We were really solid I think.
“We have a lot of new players. For me as well, it was really new,” Propper added. “We have to train together, to feel how everybody is on the field and as a person. We had a really difficult game against Celtic, of course, but from then on you learn.
“It’s really important to improve every day, and we are a team who want to do that.
“It is supposed to [happen], that you complement each other. I think [Souttar and I] can do that. We have to look to know each other a bit more and I think you see we are improving that with the whole backline. It is starting to feel more comfortable.”
Clement will need Propper and Souttar to step up their game again, however, if the Gers are to claim a result against Lyon on Thursday.
