How Clement can follow Walter Smith game plan for Rangers clash vs Lyon: Opinion
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Walter Smith, in his second spell as Rangers manager, learned that pragmatism was the key to success in Europe.
It is a similar trait shared by Philippe Clement who has gone toe to toe with Benfica whilst taking a more conservative approach away against Sparta Prague – the Gers boss has the results to back up his philosophy.
Smith, infamously, was quite happy to deploy centre-halves at full-back and even played full-backs on the wing, again, his record from 2007 to 2011 justified his tactics.
Jefte and Neraysho Kasanwirjo should get Rangers nod
Clement doesn't quite have the same quality of squad, but he can adopt a similar approach against Lyon.
His hands were tied against Malmo and yet the manager got his game plan almost perfect.
The surprise selection was he inclusion of Neraysho Kasanwirjo at left-back and it paid off with the Dutch Under-21 cap putting in an outstanding display.
Which is why Clement should pick him at left-back again.
Jefte had to miss out in Sweden due the bizarre red card that he received facing Dynamo Kyiv, but he is available to face the French cracks.
Against Hibs, Jefte was one of the best players on the park and continues to impress, Lyon though, offer an entirely different proposition and Kasanwirjo's stronger defensive attributes will be needed at Ibrox.
This doesn't mean that Jefte should miss out.
The 20-year old Brrazilian was deployed as a winger against Dynamo Kyiv and was outstanding.
Having a natural defender with his dribbling ability, crossing, pace and height is a huge asset in the final third and at set-pieces too.
Jefte would also give more protection when Rangers don't have the ball.
Clement knows what Jefte can offer Rangers on the wing
Speaking after the first leg against Dynamo, Philippe Clement explained that he wasn't surprised to see Jefte do so well in the more forward position for Rangers:
“It was what I expected, he's a very talented player that’s why we made a big fight during six months to get him here,” Clement added.
“But from January on we kept a lot of contact with him and he was really convinced to come to Rangers, although a lot of teams were interested in him.
“He’s a very talented player for the future who for sure needs to learn still a lot, but it’s normal as he's only 20 and he has one year experience in Europe.
"But he has the right mentality to fight and to be there for the team, and he has a lot of physical and technical qualities.”
Using Smith's principles, the importance of minimising chances for the opposition is hugely important against better teams.
Mistakes are punished more often, and intelligent players know how to take advantage of having more space to operate in.
This doesn't mean that Rangers have to sit in and adopt the tactics that they face so often in domestic football.
Players like Jefte and Dujon Sterling offer a robustness and physicality out of possession that Vaclav Cerny or Ross McCausland don't.
Getting the balance right could decide the game.
