The narrative surrounding Rangers’, especially following the calamitous Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Queen’s Park, is that the remainder of the current campaign is a bit of a write-off.
Rangers suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Celtic in December’s League Cup final.
They are 13 points behind their Old Firm rivals in the Premiership table, while 18 clear of Aberdeen in third. Rangers suffered one of the greatest upsets in Scottish Cup history when Queen’s Park stunned Ibrox into silence a few weeks ago, meanwhile, ensuring that 2024/25 will pass by without a single piece of domestic silverware.
Rangers were drawn against Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the last-16 of the Europa League on Friday. And, while a winnable fixture on paper, the chances of Philippe Clement masterminding a continental triumph look slim as long as Frankfurt, Roma, Manchester United and co are still in contention.
So, with so little left to play for, could Clement be tempted to use the final stretch of the season as an opportunity to take a closer look at the club’s next generation?
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Philippe Clement on what Rangers youngsters must do to emulate Clinson Nsiala
The Rangers boss wants to hand Bailey Rice a bigger role at Ibrox. The 18-year-old’s emergence is part of the reason why Kieran Dowell was allowed to join Birmingham City on loan.
Zak Lovelace may have left for Millwall, but fellow teenagers Findlay Curtis and Paul Nsio have also featured in first-team action since the turn of the year.
“I see the good work that’s been done. In Europe, but also in developing of players,” Clement protests, insisting that it hasn’t all been bad at Rangers this term.
“[We have progressed] in making players better. In younger players who came in. In players who are making steps during their career.
“That’s also one part of the story that’s very important. But at the end, of course, it’s also about the result. So we need to put the pieces together.”
Clement confirms that he will not simply throw Rice, Curtis, Nsio and co into his first XI just because the title has gone.
Like with Clinton Nsiala, the summer signing from AC Milan who has become a fixture of the Rangers team since making his Premiership debut six weeks ago, opportunities must be earned, not gifted.
Clement explains how Nsiala has become a regular at Rangers
“No,” Clement added when pressed on whether the likes of Rice, Curtis and Nsio are guaranteed feature more regularly from now until the end of May. “It’s not like it’s now the final games of the league and we’re just going to throw in young players.
“Clinton Nsiala played last weekend. I could have chosen a more experienced one at that moment, but he showed that quality in the weeks before. That there was no reason to change that. And that he deserves a spot.
“So it’s not about giving [gifts]. It’s about giving them opportunities in training. Maybe giving opportunities in certain games, like we did in this cup game.
“It’s about they need to show in the training that they deserve the spot. These days, Rangers and everybody wants to win every game. So that’s also an evolution for young players to take to go into that competition. But they’re going more and more, so that’s a positive sign.
“To win every game, that’s the objective. Every time.”
Rangers face St Mirren at Ibrox tomorrow. A seldom-seen Saturday 3pm kick-off for Clement.
