Rangers kicked off matchday one in the Europa League in emphatic fashion by beating the Allsvenskan league leaders Malmo on their own patch.
It is the first time that the Light Blues have beaten a Swedish side in Europe and the first time in four attempts against Malmo.
There was a lot to be impressed with; Mohamed Diomande was immense in midfield and the centre-half pairing of Robin Propper and John Souttar is really starting to click, Neraysho Kasanwirjo also impressed out of position on his first start.
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Philippe Clement makes game winning Rangers change
Someone else who was on top of their game was Philippe Clement, the Rangers manager got his team selection and tactics perfect, including an unseen second half adjustment.
Malmo came flying out of the traps in the second half with Rangers unable to hold onto the ball.
The fast forward passing of the first half wasn’t working and the Gers boss had to make a change.
As noticed in the stands by The Rangers Review’s Joshua Barrie, Clement seized the opportunity in a break of play to tweak his formation:
“Clement signaling for his team to go 4-5-1 at that break in play with Malmo increasingly getting an overload in the midfield.”
It worked.
Rangers stemmed the tide and managed to get back on top.
Chances for Cyriel Dessers, Tom Lawrence and Ross McCausland came and went before the latter pounced to make it 2-0 and seal all three points.
Clement has been making subtle adjustments recently, particularly in midfield.
Lawrence has been dropping deeper out of possession and Diomande has been a lot closer to Connor Barron.
The gaps that were there previously have been closed down by a significant degree to the extent that Malmo were forced to channel most of their attacks down the flanks.
Clement knows that the best is yet to come from Rangers
Speaking after the game, the Gers boss was happy with what he saw, but is fully aware that his side are far from the finished article:
“There are still a lot of things that we can improve, but you can see, as I’ve been saying, the team grow.
“Everyone is really focussed and sticking to the plan, focussed on all the details that we’re working on.
“I’m really pleased about where the team is at in this moment in their concentration and solidarity.
“Seeing signs of progress? It’s a normal thing if you work hard and everyone stays humble.
“As a staff we’re going to push really hard on that. I’m also pleased that people can start to see now the potential that is in this group.
“We know we still have to improve a lot of things, but winning here is a massive one in the way we played. We need to continue in this way.”
Success needs more than just better players.
Clement has spoken in the past about building partnerships and Rangers are starting to do this across the pitch.
The spine of the team is much improved with the centre-halves and central midfielders providing a solid base from which Rangers can counterattack and play out from the back.
It is also no surprise to see three consecutive clean sheets after the international break because of Clement’s tinkering.
Clement is right, Rangers are improving.
With a handful of first team regulars still to return, Rangers fans have every right to start believing that a corner has been turned.
