The pre-season for Rangers is in full swing, and their latest match, a behind-closed-doors 0-0 draw against Standard Liege, was another step towards getting match fit. After a comfortable 5-0 win over Hamilton last week, this game was a different beast altogether.
Tired Legs After Gruelling Training
The squad had already been put through a tough training session earlier in the day, so it was no shock to see them looking a bit leggy against Nico Raskin’s old team. They almost grabbed a winner late on when Alex Lowry hit the post, but it was your typical pre-season match where the main goal was to get the players’ fitness levels up.
New Signings and Returning Players
Philippe Clement has brought in five new players so far, but only Connor Barron made the starting lineup against Liege. The former Aberdeen midfielder had his work cut out for him, going up against a Liege side that included former Celtic player Boli Bolingoli.
A big plus was seeing Oscar Cortes back in action after his knee injury against Kilmarnock back in February. The Colombian winger, on loan from Lens, looked a bit rusty, which was to be expected after five months out. He got a half-hour run before being swapped out for Robbie Fraser in a planned change.
Wholesale Changes and Injury Scares
Clement decided to change things up at halftime, subbing out all the outfield players except for keeper Jack Butland. The new group didn’t create much excitement, but there was a bit of worry when Mohamed Diomande went down with a knee issue just before the break. Luckily, he was fine and got back on his feet quickly.
Defensive Solidity and Attacking Threats
Aside from a couple of wild shots from Cortes and Tom Lawrence, Rangers didn’t create many chances. Jack Butland did his part, handling efforts from Issac Price and Marlon Fossey whenever Liege picked up the pace.
The second half saw new signings Clinton Nsiala and Jefte join Connor Goldson in a shuffled defense, with youngsters Cole McKinnon and Findlay Curtis also getting their shot. McKinnon almost opened the scoring with a deflected shot, but Liege’s goalie Matthieu Epolo made a great save.
When Rabbi Matondo and Lowry came on in the final 30 minutes, the team finally started to look more dangerous. Matondo was first to threaten, cutting in from the left and just missing the target, while Lowry hit the woodwork with a long-range shot.
Clement’s Pre-Season Challenge
This match showed that Clement has his work cut out for him in getting the team ready for the season. Blending new signings with the existing squad while building up fitness is a tough task, but these pre-season games are perfect for figuring things out.
We’ve seen glimpses of what the new players and returning stars can do, and with more pre-season games ahead, there’s plenty to be excited about. Keep following Ibrox Insider for all the latest updates on Rangers’ pre-season journey and beyond.