With Celtic looming in the Scottish League Cup final, Philippe Clement’s team selection was arguably made even harder as Rangers tore into Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League.
Some have suggested that James Tavernier should be dropped in favour of Dujon Sterling; the captain set to renew acquaintances with the fearsome Daizen Maeda at Hampden Park.
But, as former Celtic boss Neil Lennon spelled out in the build up to this latest Old Firm clash, Tavernier remains arguably Rangers’ greatest ‘threat’. The creativity he brings in the final third must be balanced against his defensive deficiencies.
It is certainly difficult to imagine the defensively-secure but technically-limited Sterling delivering the sort of cross Tavernier provided as Hamza Igamane maintained his ‘flying’ form against Tottenham with a 47th minute opener on Thursday night.
On the other flank, meanwhile, the buzzing, battling performance of Ridvan Yilmaz in a new-look role gives Clement less ‘food for fought’ and more a buffet of dilemmas.
Philippe Clement hails Ridvan Yilmaz as Rangers ace shines
Making his first start since August after that hamstring injury, Yilmaz’s selection as a left-sided midfielder raised eyebrows.
But, as the Turkey international tore around the pitch, popping up in so many areas, Clement may now be tempted to stick with a winning – or, in this case, ‘drawing’ – formula when Sunday rolls around.
Positioned ahead of Jefte Vital on the left, Yilmaz’s energy, tenacity, and his ability to get up and down the flank could come in very handy indeed as Rangers look to quell the considerable presence of Nicolas Kuhn, not to mention the overlapping Alistair Johnston.
“I will consider every option because we will need to see how fast everybody recovers,” Clement told the media at full-time when asked about his team selection for Celtic.
“I know what kind of warrior Ridvan is from last season. He was a long time out with an injury, [and] he’s coming back now.”
Clement highlights Yilmaz’s tactical intelligence and his qualities in possession, the £3.4 million signing from Besiktas adapting rather effortlessly to his new position.
“I knew he could play that position also because he gives everything for the team and he has quality on the ball to do the right things and he’s a smart guy,” Clement adds.
“With one or two training [sessions] or one or two video sessions, you can explain a lot with him. So yeah, he was also good in that way, in that position and those are interesting things for the future.
“We have extra options then if it’s necessary.”
Clement thinks Rangers have taken ‘a big step forward’
With Connor Barron starting on the bench against Tottenham – and after Danilo and Ianis Hagi were omitted from Rangers’ Europa League roster – Clement opted to start Nedim Bajrami in the number ten role as Mohamed Diomande played a little deeper alongside the ever-impressive Nico Raskin.
Barron feels almost certain to start against Celtic. But, with Danilo and Hagi available again, there will be no shortage of difficult decisions facing Clement between now and the time the League Cup final kicks off.
“I’m very proud about the performance because it’s the way we want to see football being played,” Clement added, Cyriel Dessers denied what would have been a deserved winner both by a fantastic Fraser Forster save and an offside flag.
“If you see where this group of players is coming from, from scratch a few months ago and making performances like this now, it’s a big, big step forward.
“A massive game on Sunday again. But not only Sunday, also a few days after and the days after and the days after. It’s about having this hunger and desire every time with the squad and people are buying into that. Players are buying into that.
“They start to understand it. They start to understand also better the movement we want to make in every situation, what to do together. Not in every situation yet, but it’s getting better and better and that’s what we want.”
