Philippe Clement admits Rangers will have to rocket past a Lyon side from another world if they’re to back up their golden Europa League moment in Malmo.
The Ibrox outfit achieved lift off last week as they started the tournament with an impressive win in Sweden. But Clement reckons his side are going to have an altogether bigger test tonight when they welcome Pierre Sage’s big-spending French outfit to Glasgow.
The Belgian boss – who side will host their first continental clash at the refurbished Ibrox this evening – said: “The European nights were the most special nights so I hope to see that tomorrow. But of course, we are also realistic about Lyon. It’s a very good team. It’s better for me than the teams we met in our group stage last season.
“I think it’s the level of Benfica, who we met in the knockouts last year. But if you see the difference in budget and the money they’ve spent with this squad, and I know a lot of players from this squad still from my time in Monaco, but also the players who they brought in for 20, 25 and 32 million. It’s a different world. We know that. But we’re going to fight with our qualities towards them, like we did against Real Betis or against Benfica, because it was also comparable in that way.”
Sage’s side boast experienced campaigners like former Arsenal star Alexandre Lacazette, Crystal Palace wing wizard Wilfred Zaha and Manchester United ace Nemanja Matic. But Clement is just as wary of some of their younger talents. He said: “This Lyon team has a lot of experience, a lot of players with a really big career, with Arsenal or Matic at Chelsea and Man U, or Corentin Tolisso with Bayern Munich.
“And they have a lot of young, exciting talents also, like Rayan Cherki, who’s one of the stars of French football, but also the new wingers with Malick Fofana or Zaha who also has a big reputation. They have two squads with quality players, so that’s always exciting to see what we with our qualities can show against them. So I’m looking forward to that.”
Lyon were the undoubted kings of France in the early part of the century, winning seven straight Ligue 1 titles – three of them under former Gers boss Paul le Guen. But they’ve struggled since amid offend financial issues and haven’t lifted silverware since their 2012 French Cup triumph.
But Clement said: “If you speak about financial problems and you go to take a look at what they’ve spent the last years, then I would like to be in financial problems with them, to be honest! They spend a lot, they spend a lot on experienced players, but also on young, talented players.
“Like I said, they bought guys for 25 million, they bought two players in Genk (Fofana and Gift Orban) for I think, 34million euros. So, to speak about those prices, it’s a different world, we know. But that’s the challenge, and that’s the nice thing also. You want this competition also to compete with the best. It can only make my players better.”
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Clement will welcome Jefte back from suspension while Mohamed Diomande is also available after sitting out Sunday’s win over Hibs with a knock. The Ibrox boss hopes to build on last week’s encouraging Malmo opener – and believes the Ibrox faithful can play a part.
He said: “Even a draw would be a very, very good result, if you see the difference in budget that they can spend on transfers. So we go full for that, and we go for the three points, not to play only to get one point. But then we need everybody on his top, we need a few players who go above their level, and to have an amazing evening with the fans, being like a 12-player outside the pitch so that you feel the energy on the pitch. That’s what we need also.”