Rangers’ European Form Bolsters Clement’s Position Amidst Domestic Challenges

Had Rangers supporters been told at the season’s outset that by the mid-November international break the team would trail Aberdeen by nine points, none would have believed it, and they would have been justifiably furious at the prospect. The team has demonstrably been the third-best performer domestically this campaign, reserving its strongest displays for European competitions, as evidenced last week by securing a valuable away point against Olympiakos, followed by a lackluster showing in their victory over Hearts. Philippe Clement’s continued employment is likely attributable to the team’s European performances and results, alongside a clear boardroom objective to establish stability and avoid the costly and challenging cycle of annual managerial dismissals and appointments. Clement faces the challenge of translating the team’s strong European form to the domestic league to reduce the nine-point advantage held by Celtic and Aberdeen before the year concludes. This task is complicated by the consistent performance of both league leaders, who show few signs of faltering. A recent positive for the manager has been the resurgence in form of Nico Raskin. The Belgian midfielder is increasingly resembling the player observed upon his initial arrival at Ibrox, and with Vaclav Cerny consistently posing an attacking threat, these developments offer glimpses of optimism for Clement and the embattled Rangers fanbase amidst current difficulties. Clement’s assertive choice to substitute James Tavernier with Dujon Sterling in Athens was previously noted as a necessary move. Although Tavernier rejoined the starting lineup against Hearts, both Sterling and Neraysho Kasanwirjo likely merit extended opportunities in the team. Kasanwirjo could potentially be a superior choice over Robin Propper at centre-back, particularly if Leon Balogun is unable to feature in every match. Rangers are scheduled to play seven remaining league games in 2024. All these fixtures are considered winnable and, realistically, must be secured for the team to retain any prospect of challenging for the title. This sequence of matches is also interspersed with Europa League encounters against Nice and Tottenham, immediately after which they are set to face Celtic in the League Cup final. Consequently, an intense yet thrilling period lies ahead before Rangers host Celtic at Ibrox in the new year. The team cannot afford to widen the gap with the champions before this fixture, necessitating an improvement in domestic performance to prevent such an outcome.