New manager Philippe Clement says the Rangers fans can expect a ‘dominant’ style of football but with plenty of control as the former Monaco boss replaces Mick Beale at the Scottish Premiership giants.
And if the 49-year-old’s track record is anything to go by, Philippe Clement can – and probably will – succeed in balancing attacking ferocity with defensive resilience. A sharpened broadsword in one arm, and a silver shield in the other.
His Genk side won Belgium’s Jupiler League title in 2019 with the best defensive record and the second-best attack. His Club Brugge teams then did largely the same in both 2020 and 2021, with Clement – labelled hte ‘outstanding candidate’ by chief executive James Bisgrove – now hoping to bring about similar levels of success in his new Glasgow home.
Philippe Clement is Rangers’ new manager
“I like dominant football. I did it in Belgium,” the Rangers boss explains, via the Daily Record. “To play attacking football with a lot of changing of positions, but (while introducing) a good structure (so) that you don’t lose stupid goals on transition.”
Towards the end of Beale’s tenure, Rangers often struggled to open up opposition defences at one end and, at the other, possessed about as much resistance as a block of playdough under a katana blade.
Clement, then, will be under immediate pressure to improve things in both the attacking and defensive thirds if he is to achieve his ambition of adding another league title to his already impressive tally.
“I already told you I want to win everything. That’s the mentality I have. I want to give this mentality towards the dressing room and create more winners,” the self-confident, single-minded Clement adds.
“We will work really hard to win silverware as quickly as possible. I don’t have a crystal ball and I’m not a magician. But I know, if we can work with players for a long time, I know we can make them better.
“I’ve had very interesting talks with Graeme (Souness) and the board. How are we going to do it? Creating better athletes, football players, (with) stronger mentalities. It’s a very important thing.
“It can go really fast with the squad if they get more confidence, and the fans get behind them. If you have 50,000 people behind you. You get stronger as a football player. So it’s important to create that synergy.
“I hope the fans know how much power they have.”
Clement will make Ibrox bow vs Hibernian
Rangers were booed off by their home support on a number of occasions under Beale, but Clement’s eye-catching CV means he is likely to be afforded a lot more leeway by an expectant fanbase.
The former Belgium international, at his introductory press conference, also threw his weight behind struggling £4.5 million striker Cyriel Dessers while indicating that James Tavernier will remain the club’s captain.
