Philippe Clement insists Rangers are up against it in the Europa League when Lyon come to Ibrox – and that the Ligue 1 side have the stars to prove it.
The Belgian manager insists that his Rangers team will be going ‘full’ to get the three points at Ibrox and build on an opening day victory against Malmo in Sweden.
But Philippe Clement is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge facing Rangers this evening with Lyon spending £125m to revamp their squad in the summer.
The French giants boast a mixture of experienced pros who have played at the highest level and bright young talents with everything to prove in the game.
Clement has spoken plainly to the press ahead of the clash between the two sides about the challenge which Rangers face on Europa League duties.
Rangers to face Lyon side ‘as good as Benfica’
Philippe Clement has been quick to point out the difference in transfer budgets between Rangers and Lyon.
The French side finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season and have since set about revamping their squad with substantial backing from their boardroom.
Spending big on the likes of Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest – €32m), Ernest Nuamah (Standard Liege – €28.5m) and Georges Mikautadze (Metz – €18.5m) this summer, these names join an already swelling list of top talents in the Lyon squad.
And that’s before we even mention the likes of Wilfried Zaha.
Clement has touched on the budgets and claims that any result against Lyon will be something to celebrate for Rangers in the Europa League.
The Rangers manager also insists that Lyon are on the level of Benfica, who knocked Rangers out of the Europa League Last 16 last season.
“(Lyon) is better than the teams we’ve met in the group stage,” said Clement. “For me it’s the level of Benfica, who we met last season.
“But if you see the difference in budget, in the money they’ve spent with this squad and I know a lot of players from this squad still from my time in Monaco.
“But also the players they brought in for £20m, £25m, £32m; it’s a different world.
“We know that but we’re going to fight with our qualities towards them like we did against Betis or against Benfica because it was also comparable.
“It would feel huge (to win the first two games in the Europa League). But also winning against Lyon would be a huge thing.
“Even a draw would be a very, very good result if you see the difference in budget that they can spend on transfers.
“So we go full for that. We go for the three points not to play only to get one point.
“But then we need everybody on his top and we need a few players who go above their level and have an amazing evening with the fans being like a 12th player.”
Philippe Clement picks out seven Lyon stars
Philippe Clement has also been singling out some Lyon stars ahead of the Europa League clash with Rangers.
The Ibrox gaffer knows all about a number of the club’s top players but has singled out no fewer than seven names who can cause his side problems.
Insisting that Lyon have ‘two squads’ who could face Rangers this evening without losing an inch of quality, the Gers boss has discussed the blend of quality experience and talent the French side have in their ranks.
“This Lyon team has a lot of experience,” said Clement. “A lot of players with a really big career.
“Like Alexandre Lacazette in Arsenal or Matic in Chelsea and Man Utd, or Corentin Tolisso in Bayern Munich.
“And they have a lot of young exciting talents also, like Rayan Cherki, who is one of the starts of French football.
“But also the new wingers, Malick Fofana, Ernest Nuamah, Wilfried Zaha also who has a big reputation.
“They have two squads with quality players so that’s always exciting to see what we with our qualities can show against that.”
Here’s our Rangers predicted XI for the clash v Lyon at Ibrox.
