Nacho Novo watched Philippe Clement produce a tactical masterclass in his Spanish homeland to blow Real Betis out of the Europa League.
And knew there and then that the new Rangers would have no fear taking his side into the lion’s den of Parkhead on Saturday. Former Gers favourite Novo admits he has been hugely impressed with the manner in which Clement has handled the pressure of taking over an injury-hit, confidence-shorn Ibrox squad and taken it on a 16-game unbeaten run that includes winning their Europa League group section and the Viaplay Cup.
Rangers have also eaten into Celtic’s lead at the top of the Premiership and although the weather robbed them of the chance to cut the gap to two points with a game in hand on Wednesday – the clash with Ross County was called off when the Dingwall outfit was unable to make the hazardous journey down the A9 – they will travel across the city on Saturday full of belief in themselves – and their manager. Novo, back in Britain after a spell coaching in the USA, has been watching with interest as events have unfolded at Ibrox and he is adamant that beating Real Betis in their own backyard earlier this month, then backing it up with victory at Hampden over Aberdeen, has been key in fuelling the belief that they can go to Celtic Park and win.
He told Record Sport: “Obviously, being Spanish I keep a close eye on La Liga and I knew going into that game in Seville that Rangers would have a really hard night because Betis had not been beaten at home all season. Even Real Madrid and Atletico could not win there. Betis is not an easy club to go to, especially with a manager who is a great coach, Manuel Pellegrini.
“Clement has proved he can study the opposition and can put in place a plan to win the game. He did it perfectly against Betis, when Rangers looked like they could score every time they moved forward on the counter attack. They killed Betis that way that night and the players would have looked at that afterwards and thought: ‘wow, this guy really knows his stuff.’
“They would have been behind Clement anyway, because the team started really well when he took over from Michael Beale. But that night would have made them believe they can go anywhere and win. After that, normally after a big European match, the team can be a little bit flat.
“With the travelling, the mental and physical work that has gone into the match.
“But Rangers had to get right back for the League Cup Final and they did that. I know how hard that is because right after the UEFA Cup final in 2008, we had to play the Scottish Cup final and everyone thought it would be easy because we were playing Queen of the South from the league below. But it wasn’t easy. We ended up winning 3-2, but it was a hard, hard game.
“I watched the League Cup final against Aberdeen and in the first half I could see signs that things were a little bit flat, but in the second half they did what great Rangers have done over the years – they found a way to win against a good Aberdeen team, who can be dangerous on the counter attack. It was a huge win for Clement because it came so early in his Rangers career and it can be the start of something special.”
The postponement of the Ross County clash could be a blessing in disguise for Gers, giving Clement’s leg-weary troops six days between matches and offering the likes of Connor Goldson more time to recover from injury. But Novo reckons Clement will be keeping his players’ feet on the gas ahead of the crucial clash in the East End.
He added: “I really like what I’ve seen of him so far. He needs time but when you are at Rangers, you don’t have much time! So to have won a first cup in his first couple of months is really big for him.
“There’s so much pressure on being Rangers manager that very few people can deal with it. The likes of Souness could. And Walter, of course. They were strong managers and the early signs are that Clement will be like them in that way.
“We are looking good but he will be thinking they haven’t achieved anything yet. He will keep them on their toes because sometimes when you relax, that’s when you get caught.
“He is an interesting manager. I was laughing at him dancing with the players after the cup win. It is good to see a head coach do that. I’d like to see how he does his work. It would be interesting to see how he prepares for games and what his week looks like in a coaching sense.”
Rangers might be injury-hit going to Parkhead, but Novo is delighted that captain James Tavernier is not one of the bodies on the treatment table. The Spaniard is thrilled that the Viaplay Cup matchwinner is finally getting the credit he deserves at Ibrox, having scored 116 goals from right back in eight years at the club.
“Tav is incredible,” Novo said. “He is a leader and sometimes it is difficult to wear that armband when things are not going well. In Glasgow, you can be the best and you can be the worst! But Tav is so strong mentally and he is now getting the credit he deserves from the Rangers supporters and others, who realise that to score so many goals and get so many assists from right back is amazing. And they are not all penalties!”
