If there’s thing Rangers must now manage in 2024, it’s Europe and domestic.
While our priority is surely on winning 56, there will also be an eye on the Europa League, with Rangers to find out on Friday which side they will face in the last 16.
And of course, that means Thursday football for at least two more weeks minimum.
The problem is of course managing domestic alongside this – we do have a great manager who has been here before, managing Europa or Champions League with every club he was boss of.
So this is nothing new to the boss. And of course, we had to look into the ‘Euro hangover’ effect, of how he’s done at the weekend after having a European game midweek – the results are encouraging.
While not always winning after a Euro match, his career results (Genk, Monaco and Brugges) have been healthy, with a lot of wins as well as a few draws and a few losses. So yes, a hangover is possible, but he recovers well and seems to manage it as well as anyone.
But Rangers, like Genk and Brugges, aren’t furnished with a world class squad and managing the weekend will still be a challenge.
And of course he’s always won at the weekend with Rangers after a Euro game midweek – including the League Cup final.
There is however a small catch – Celtic without Europe will be fresher for their Saturday match, and Rangers will always be playing catch up on the Sunday for as long as we remain in the UEL.
So that’s something else to manage, and of course, it derailed Giovanni van Bronckhorst completely, who didn’t have a hapless opponent in Brendan Rodgers, fighting as HE did v Angie.
So Clement definitely has a few little advantages – a manager on the opposite side who’s falling to pieces without any Euro football, and his own ability to win in the league even after a midweek Euro match.
Hopefully that continues!