There are a few Premier League-based managers who could benefit from taking a leaf out of Philippe Clement’s Rangers playbook.
Because as coaches with squads deeper than the Marianas Trench bemoan a gruelling fixture schedule – who knew an expensively-assembled, superstar-filled Manchester City roster ‘cannot compete’ in the absence of Rodri, to quote the beleaguered Pep Guardiola? – Clement is refusing to engage such excuses.
Instead, the Rangers boss is determined to view a run of 12 games between now and the start of February as a positive.
A chance to shuffle his pack, to try out a number of players in somewhat unfamiliar roles, and to rest a few aching limbs.
Fortunately, Rangers can also boast the sort of options Clement could only dream off back in August.
When Danilo was injured, when Ianis Hagi was out of favour, when Hamza Igamane was completely new to Scottish football, and before Nedim Bajrami arrived from Sassuolo in a £3.4 million deadline-day deal.
Top scorer Vaclav Cerny, meanwhile, has been taken off around the 70-minute mark in each of Rangers’ last three Scottish Premiership games. The impending return of Ross McCausland feels particularly well-timed, then, as Clement looks to avoid snapping his overworked Czech winger’s piano-wire muscles.
Philippe Clement hints at chances for Rangers duo Ross McCausland and Ridvan Yilmaz
“It’s the holidays now. It is a more busy period, but look at the period we had in October, November, December,” Clement tells reporters during his press conference on Wednesday, speaking ahead of their Boxing Day trip to St Mirren. “So, it’s been a period like that before.
“We will need to manage that, that’s for sure. In that way, I am happy that Ross is getting back. He’s been out a long time with a problem with his foot. He feels better now, and I hope he can grow now also to release Vaclav at moments.
“We have options at the moment with Dani getting back, Hamza, Cyriel [Dessers], Nedim can play in the three positions behind the striker. Ianis, who came back. There are more options there than in the beginning of the season.
“Ridvan also, who can play a good role as a left-winger. He can do that job, also. It is going to be crucial to have this possibility to make rotations with the games coming at a short time.”
Clement described the aforementioned Ridvan Yilmaz as a ‘warrior’ after watching the Turkish full-back mark his return against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League with a dynamic display in a more attack-minded position.
Situated ahead of Jefte on the flank – Nedim Bajrami played in his favoured number ten role as a result – Yilmaz’s Duracell-powered energy levels and his fierce aggression caught the eye, even if he lacks the technical qualities of the former Sassuolo playmaker.
Yilmaz an option to play left-back role for Rangers going forward
“The first time in the history of football [we play so many games], for everybody. So you need a squad that is physically ready and mentally ready for that,” Clement adds. “The more you complain about that, the more you give excuses.
“And I don’t want to give excuses to the team because they all want to play football. They all want to win things. This is the situation. So, its like you want to win a marathon and you only want to run 20 miles! It’s not happening
“Is it good for football? I don’t think so, and everybody agrees with that. But we have to focus on ourselves. [If] everybody is on their toes and shows themselves, there will be more chances [for them to impress].”
Rangers kick off at St Mirren Park at 5.45 on Thursday.
