Delighted Philippe Clement claims Rangers’ four-star showing against Steaua Bucharest was the perfect remedy to the Premiership woes that have sickened his side.
The Ibrox gaffer and his men have been coming under increasing pressure since Sunday’s slip-up at Kilmarnock saw them drop six points off title pacesetters Celtic and Aberdeen. But the Light Blues were able to leave their domestic troubles behind as they ran riot against the Romanians to move on to six Europa League points from their three games so far.
Tom Lawrence got Gers off and running before Vaclav Cerny added a slick double, with Moroccan kid Hamza Igamane rounding off a morale-boosting win. Asked if his side had a point to prove, Clement – who watched Gers record their biggest group stage win since a 5-0 UEFA Cup thumping of Amica Wronki in 2004 – said: “Of course, we were all sick of losing. The players, the staff, everybody was disappointed.
“We wanted to stand up together. Somebody told me it’s more than 20 years ago since Rangers won a European group stage game by four goals. I still see a lot of things that we can improve in this game, but I’m happy that everybody can see that there’s potential in this squad. Like I’ve been saying the last weeks, we need time to get everything together and to get better and better.”
Igamane fired his first goal for the club after replacing Cyriel Dessers, who stormed down the tunnel in a bizarre incident as Gers celebrated their third goal. Explaining what happened, Clement – who also had to take Leon Balogun and Tom Lawrence off – said: “Cyriel got a finger in his eye, so he couldn’t see good anymore.
“He was quite emotional about it because he wanted to stay on the pitch, but he didn’t see anything, so he ran off. That was a really strange moment for me, but he apologised after the game. Leon Balogun cramped up, so I don’t think there will be a big problem. I have more worries with Tom Lawrence. Somebody fell on him and he twisted his knee, so we’ll see how serious that is.”
Igamane made the most of his chance as he rifled home his first goal since completing a £2million switch from AS FAR Rabat. But Clement is keen not to heap too much pressure on the 21-year-old’s young shoulders. “I don’t want to start with this hype again or talking players into heaven – and then next week when he misses a chance to kick him down,” he said.
“No, it’s a young player with potential who still needs to learn a lot. He didn’t understand one word of English when he came. He’s taking lessons together with Jefte and Oscar Cortes. These are young boys still adapting to this country. But they’re really talented boys who are going to be important for the future of this club.”
Gers are now right in the hunt for a place in the knock-out stages, with just four more points from their final five league phase games expected to be enough to qualify.
But it could have been a much different outcome last night had Jack Butland not been given a major let off just two minutes in.
The keeper was stripped of possession by David Miculescu – but referee Marco di Bello blew for a foul BEFORE the Bucharest striker could bundle into his empty net.
Clement insisted it was a “clear four” but the official admitted to Bucharest boss Elias Charamboulou he’d blundered whistling early.
Charamboulou said: “The game might have been very different if the referee had made the right decision. I spoke to him at half-time. He apologised AND said he should have waited before whistling, so VAR could have helped with the decision.
“I respect him for that. But it is too late now.”