Propper hails two Rangers team-mates after Malmo win, new signing proves he's 'a really good player'
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As Rangers beat Malmo in Thursday’s Europa League curtain raiser, there was justification not only for the club’s decision to sign Robin Propper but for Robin Propper’s decision to sign for Rangers.
On his debut in the competition, the summer signing from FC Twente produced yet another commanding defensive performance.
Rangers secured a fourth clean sheet in five games across all competitions. And nights like this, he says, are exactly why he opted to leave his beloved Twente behind for a fresh start on the blue side of Glasgow.
Robin Propper, it’s fair to say, endured a difficult start to life at Ibrox.
There was a horrific own goal against Motherwell on his first appearance, soon to be followed by that 3-0 Old Firm reverse at Celtic.
But Propper has talked up his partnership with Rangers team-mate John Souttar in recent times, and the manner in which Rangers held a dangerous Malmo side at arms’ length throughout on Swedish soil was another massive step forward in the post-Connor Goldson era.
Propper’s commanding display, meanwhile, offered a reminder as to why Philippe Clement was so delighted to bring the ex-Eredivisie captain to Ibrox in the first place.
- READ MORE:Rangers Europa League Record Since 2017
Robin Propper lauds John Souttar as Rangers beat Malmo in Europa League
“I really enjoyed it,” Propper told reporters after making his long-awaited bow in the Europa League’s first-phase. “Our fans were amazing so it was really nice to see. This is how I imagined it, playing for Rangers.
“We want to show what we can do in European nights, and we have a good team to do that. You have to confirm the things you see on the training pitch and I think we did that today. [We created] a lot of good chances to make maybe more goals, and we were defending I think really well.
“Maybe one good chance from them against us. We were really solid I think.”
The finest central defensive partnerships tend to involve two players with highly complimentary skillsets.
In that sense, Propper and Souttar go together like peanut butter and jam. A tasty combination of ball-playing and penalty-box defending.
Both players appear to be improving week-by-week too, that Celtic aberration now starting to feel like something of a turning point for a Rangers squad getting to know each other after a summer of considerable change.
“We have a lot of new players. For me as well, it was really new,” adds Propper. “We have to train together, to feel how everybody is on the field and as a person. We had a really difficult game against Celtic, of course, but from then on you learn.
“It’s really important to improve every day, and we are a team who want to do that.
“It is supposed to [happen], that you complement each other. I think [Souttar and I] can do that. We have to look to know each other a bit more and I think you see we are improving that with the whole backline. It is starting to feel more comfortable.”
Propper also hails Neraysho Kasanwirjo after his full Rangers debut
Propper played alongside Rangers teammates Vaclav Cerny and Cyriel Dessers in the Eredivisie.
He also knows Neraysho Kasanwirjo from Dutch football, the former Groningen ace joining on loan from Feyenoord for the season.
On his first start, Kasanwirjo impressed Rangers legend Ally McCoist after being surprisingly selected ahead of Dujon Sterling on the left-hand side at the Elede Stadium. Propper too was equally enthused by a man who provides competition and cover in a multitude of defensive roles.
“He can play in different positions,” Propper says of Kasanwirjo.
“He’s a really good footballing player. I know him from a lot of games in Holland. We have so many good players to play with. That’s the good part of Rangers.
“Nana did really well today.”
