Jefte impresses as Tannadice stats show why Gers were right to be fight
09/16/2024 02:30 PM
Philippe Clement will still be tinkering over the coming weeks as he looks to find the best starting XI for Rangers.
New signings Nedim Bajrami and Neraysho Kasanwirjo will be integrated into the squad with the manager knowing that results and performances must improve.
A return to Ibrox will help but the Gers boss is also learning what players he can trust and who won't let him down.
- READ MORE:Rangers Net Transfer Spend Summer 2024
Jefte continues to impress for Rangers
One of them is Jefte, signed with the expectation of being a back-up, however, his start to life at Rangers suggests that he can be so much more than that.
Against Dundee United, he would have run John Souttar and Connor Barron close for man of the match.
A mixture of solid defending and a keenness to support the attack showing exactly why Clement fought so hard to land the 20-year old Brazilian.
His statistics for the 1-0 win at Tannadice make for impressive reading.
| Attribute | Percentage | Success Rate |
| Passing | 86% | 36/42 |
| Long ball | 100% | 3/3 |
| Crossing | 25% | 2/8 |
| Dribbling | 100% | 2/2 |
| Ground duels | 86% | 6/7 |
| Aerial duels | 50% | 2/4 |
The left-back also had two interceptions and six ball recoveries in an all-action display.
Clement right to fight for Jefte signature
After impressing on the wing against Dynamo Kyiv, Philippe Clement explained why there was no surprise to see Jefte playing so well 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.”
After initially looking nervy in defence, Jefte has looked more solid than the skipper on the other flank.
He isn't getting caught out of position with balls in behind and is proving to be more aggressive than Borna Barisic when defending 1 v 1.
For less than £1m, Rangers recruitment team has done well to identify Jefte and bring him to Ibrox before he becomes too expensive.
As a modern, all-round full-back capable of defending and attacking, he could well be the first example of Nils Koppen's era of how the player trading model is supposed to work.
