Philippe Clement hailed for 3 Rangers transformations as pundits spot sea change in EVERY area

Philippe Clement and James Tavernier

The plaudits for Philippe Clement continue to roll in – and the pundits reckon improvements in three key players highlight just how good a job he has done so far.

Clement led Rangers to a famous victory over Real Betis in Seville on Thursday night and they won their Europa League group thanks to a battling 3-2 win. Kemar Roofe sealed it for them and they now move straight through to the last 16, with one eye on February’s draw and another run deep into the competition.

The new boss has been credited for improving several stars whose form was wavering in the days of Michael Beale with John Lundstram in particular impressing fans with his Euro displays…just like he did in that glory run under Gio van Bronckhorst. And speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, pundit Simon Donnelly reckons a ‘quiet word’ in his ear from Clement might have been the secret.

He said: “I think you have to give the current manager credit. For the last 15/16 games since Clement came in, he’s got the results that they’ve demanded. Kenny will tell you, sometimes when it’s a new guy at the helm, it might be a quiet word with Lundstram, it might be an arm round him. Man-management might get the best out of them.

“It seems to be the case at the moment. He’s come into a job, Rangers were wobbling at the time and he’s turned it round quite quickly.”

He was joined in the studio by Kenny Miller who took his turn to point out Leon Balogun, whose reinstatement in defence has improved them at the back. He was signed in the summer by Beale but was left out of their Europa League squad – something Clement is likely to rectify for the knockout stage.

Miller said: “Simon’s right, he deserves a lot of credit. It’s not only Lundstram, I even look at Leon Balogun who couldn’t get anywhere near the team under the manager who signed him. The new manager comes in, plays him, and it looks like he’s the number one.”

It was then free-scoring Abdallah Sima’s turn to get his moment in the headlines as Donnelly interjected to pinpoint the improvement in his output. Miller underlined the fact he was already scoring under Beale, but it was five in 13 under his former boss compared to nine in 15 under Clement and he has now scored in each of his last four games.

Miller said: “I think (Sima) had already done it at the end of Michael’s time, to be fair. But he’s on 14 goals, it’s incredible.”