Rangers

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Ibrox

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This has been an incredibly impressive Europa League campaign. A top-eight finish is a fantastic outcome given how foreboding the draw looked and the fans were loving it come full-time.

This was a tough group, no doubt about it.

Progression was secured before kick-off but such were the uncertainties involved, a top-eight finish really seemed beyond them at the start of the night.

That still seemed the case until late on when Nice levelled against Bodo/Glimt and suddenly everything somehow just fell into place.

This was a Union Saint-Gilloise side that seemed capable and intent on getting forward whenever possible. Rangers stood up to that, having rode their luck several times but they were clinical at key moments and that was decisive.

It is something of a conundrum this season that, at this level, Rangers can seem to raise their game yet have struggled away from home in particular domestically.

But no-one at Ibrox was bothered about any of that come the final whistle.

Dessers deserves special mention. He seems to have really stepped up of late and played a key role in what was a memorable night, and achievement.

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Philippe Clement has not had his injury problems to seek, and has at times recently been forced to call upon younger players in the Rangers ranks.

While arguably not ideal, former Ibrox midfielder Kevin Thomson has been delighted with the opportunities granted to emerging talents.

Defender Clinton Nsiala, 21, forward Zak Lovelace, 19, and 18-year-old midfielder Findlay Curtis are among those to have featured in recent games.

Curtis and Bailey Rice came off the bench in last week's 2-1 defeat at Man United and could be set for more Europa League game-time in tonight's visit of Union Saint-Gilloise.

"The manager's hand's been forced at times to potentially allow some of the young ones to get an opportunity," Thomson said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But I'm sitting here as an ex-player thinking that's brilliant. Sometimes you need that opportunity.

"It may be through default, it may be through injury, it may be through different circumstances, but when it gives that opportunity, I think that's good for the long-term future of the club.

"When you're seeing people like Kieran Dowell moving out on loan, Rabbi Matando's obviously been linked with going away too, it creates space for the younger ones and that can only be a good thing."

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Former Rangers manager Alex McLeish believes Philippe Clement's side are getting their swagger back as they look to continue momentum with a Europa League win over Union Saint-Gilloise tonight.

Rangers' 3-1 victory at Dundee United last weekend was their first Premiership away win in five attempts and McLeish was particularly impressed with the new front pairing of Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers.

"I really thought there was a purpose about Rangers and a cloud had lifted after all the criticism of their away form," he told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme.

"I thought I saw a little change in the wind in the United game. It was a great 3-1 victory. They really took the game to United and playing with two centre forwards was a real novelty these days but very effective.

"For the first time this season watching Rangers away from home it was an inspirational performance."

Rangers are already guaranteed a Europa League play-off spot – and have a very slim chance of securing a top-eight finish and direct entry to the last 16 should they beat the Belgians and a series of other results go in their favour.

"Clement will demand the same again. Take the performance level, confidence and rhythm from the Dundee Utd game into this one," McLeish added.

"They had a fantastic performance in Nice [4-1 Europa League win in November] and Igamane was outstanding that night and has been ever since. To see him and Dessers together was quite amazing the other day. They looked very dangerous.

"Belgian teams have been terrific on the road but Rangers have a very good chance of winning this one and further cementing their confidence."

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• Rangers have won all six of their home games against Belgian sides in all competitions by an aggregate score of 20-7. Their most recent such match was a 3-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in qualifying for the 2022-23 Champions League.

• Union Saint-Gilloise have lost three of their four meetings with Scottish opponents in all competitions, with the exception a 2-0 home win against Rangers in August 2022.

• Rangers have only lost two of their 18 home group/league phase games in the Europa League (W10 D6), with both coming to Lyon in September 2021 (2-0) and October 2024 (4-1).

• Union Saint-Gilloise have won three of their past five away major European matches (L2), as many as they had managed in their first 16 such games (W3 D4 L9).

• Franjo Ivanovic has scored a brace in both of Union Saint-Gilloise's last two Europa League games, giving him four goals overall. Only Victor Boniface (6) and Roger Van Cauwelaert (5) have more in major European competition for the club.

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Rangers have appointed Issame Charai as assistant manager to fellow Belgian Philippe Clement following Andries Ulderink's departure "for personal reasons".

The 42-year-old Charai was most recently Morocco Under-23 head coach, leading them to the African Cup of Nations title.

He was previously assistant at Al-Faisaly, where he also had a spell as caretaker, Beerschot, Sint-Truidense and Leuven.

Before turning to coaching, he was a forward with Berchem Sport, Lierse, Geel, Mechelen 46, Sint-Truidense and Tienen.

Ulderink joined Rangers in the summer but now leaves Ibrox to return to the Netherlands.

In a website statement, the Scottish Premiership club stated: "Everyone at Rangers wishes Andries well for his future and asks his privacy is respected at this time."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has welcomed the decision to rescind the late red card shown to Mohamed Diomande in Sunday's 3-1 win Premiership win over Dundee United.

Diomande clashed with United's Kevin Holt in injury time and, despite being asked to review the incident by the VAR, referee Nick Walsh stuck with his original call, which was subsequently overturned on appeal.

"It's just common logic," said Clement in the build-up to Thursday's Europa League tie against Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox.

"It's a normal thing. It's good there is a good system that you can appeal.

"It's good also that VAR did their job during the game and were clear it was not a red card. It's good that the system works.

"Of course, it's a big difference now it's the last two minutes of the game and this happens and it doesn't have any influence on the result.

"It would have been totally different if it happened in the first half and you would need to play with 10 players because then it impacts the game also, but that was not the case.

"Everybody made clear it was not a red card and that there was a mistake made. That's finished."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League match against Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox.

Here are the key points:

• Clement will not disclose if any key players will return from injury as he doesn't want to help his opponents in a "decisive game" and give them "all the tools".

• The Belgian says it would be "impossible" to try to keep track of other Europa League ties that could impact on whether Rangers finish in the top eight.

• On the challenge the visitors will present: "Union is a very good team, very strong, so it's not easy to win against them."

• Clement insists full-back Jefte would "100%" benefit from staying at Rangers longer term after being linked with a move to Chelsea.

• On Mohamad Diomande's late red card against Dundee United being overturned on appeal, Clement says it is "good that the system works", but pointed out the impact may have been greater had the dismissal occurred early in the game.

• He describes 18-year-old midfielder Findlay Curtis' new deal as "another step about the story that I told you guys from beginning of July about where this club wants to go and where this club needs to go".

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Elton Kabangu will go from striker to supporter on Thursday night when he cheers on his parent club Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox.

The 26-year-old has made a positive early impression since arriving on loan at Hearts this month - scoring three goals in three appearances - and says Union SG are not to be underestimated.

The Belgians head to Ibrox seeking a fourth straight Europa League victory and are, like Rangers, already guaranteed a play-off spot.

"They won last Thursday [against Braga] and they're doing very well, qualifying for the next round," Kabangu told BBC Scotland.

"Rangers are a good team and also I watched the game against Man United, so it will be a good game. I will be there to watch.

"[Union play with] fast transitions, strikers that are hungry like me and a good defence.

"I don't want to say too much because I don't want to reveal the tactics. But Union like to play football, the coach has a good vision and it will be an open game.

"I think Union can win - but I think also Rangers can win."

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Rangers boss Philippe Clement has praised the "hard work and dedication" of Findlay Curtis after the 18-year-old signed a contract extension following his first-team breakthrough.

The midfielder made his debut in the 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Fraserburgh this month and also came off the bench in last week's 2-1 Europa League defeat at Manchester United.

Curtis was due to be out of contract in the summer and Rangers have not disclosed the length of the new deal.

"It's a proud day for myself, my family and friends, and it's a good feeling to commit my future to the club," said the teenager.

"The manager has been so helpful with me and he has given me the confidence to keep on pushing. He said to me that my chance would come and to be patient."

Clement added: "As a boyhood Rangers fan, he is well aware of what it takes to represent this club and I look forward to his continued development over the coming years."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

On Sunday, I posed the question in commentary at Tannadice: "Can Rangers afford to sell Cyriel Dessers?" after a remarkable period for the much-maligned striker.

His goal to clinch the 3-1 victory, like the one he scored at Old Trafford a few days earlier, was magnificent, making it six in four games after his Scottish Cup hat-trick against Fraserburgh and his strike off the bench against Aberdeen.

So the answer to my question is quite straightforward in my mind. Of course they can't. Yes, he'll continue to miss chances that defy belief, but even though the emergence of Hamza Igamane had relegated Dessers to the bench in recent times, the pair dovetailed well against Dundee United and there is no reason not to continue with that pairing over the weeks and months to come.

That win over United was massive for Rangers and it should do them a power of good psychologically. I think it was Craig Levein alongside me in commentary who described them as a "Jekyll and Hyde team" and it was a pretty apt description.

For the first 35 minutes of that game they were second best, didn't look up for the physical battle and seemed to be heading for another away game without a victory or maybe even a point.

Mohamed Diomande's equaliser came out of the blue but was the catalyst for a much-improved performance and by the end they could have run away with the game.

It typifies Rangers' season. Very rarely have they turned in a good 90-minute display, but when they are playing with confidence, they look unstoppable.

If they play as they did in the closing hour at Tannadice against Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday, I fully expect them to beat the Belgians.

And with that, looking at the permutations, it's far from impossible that they can squeeze into the top eight and qualify automatically for the last 16, which would be a phenomenal achievement for a team and manager who have come in for enormous criticism this season.

Rangers have yet to offer Ianis Hagi a new contract, despite reports suggesting one had been made to the 26-year-old Romania midfielder. (Sky Sports), external

Agent and former Rangers player Craig Moore says the Ibrox club were made aware of Nikola Katic's desire to return to Ibrox from FC Zurich but are not interested in signing the 28-year-old centre-half. (Go Radio Football Show), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

It was a tale of two Uniteds for us in recent days and we won the game at Tannadice that I wasn't expecting to win.

Firstly, the match at Old Trafford was a sickener. Two daft errors cost us a point in the end, but it was great to see Findlay Curtis and Bailey Rice play their part. The biggest issue from the night was Vaclav Cerny's injury.

Another away trip - this time to Tannadice - soon beckoned and I'm surprised we won so comfortably in the end.

The 4-4-2 helped both strikers and enabled us to cause United problems, especially in the second half. That match did clearly show our need for a dominant centre-back, especially one that can help deal with crosses, corners and long throws. However, the win was a step in the right direction.

Now let's talk about the Mohamed Diomande red card. It was ridiculous. Nick Walsh was being far too stubborn for his own good with this one. You would hope it gets overturned on appeal and the ref punished as a result.

I'm sick of talking about these big decisions every week in a game involving Rangers. Maybe sometime this season we'll get a fair crack of the whip.

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Chelsea have made initial contact with Rangers left-back Jefte's representatives to ask about a potential transfer come the end of the season, with the Ibrox club aware of other interest from a handful of clubs on the continent in the 21-year-old. (Rangers Review), external

Rangers director of football recruitment Nils Koppen said in October that, if a player like Jefte was doing well and the right offer came in, they should be brave enough to sell and find the next prospect. (Glasgow Times), external

However, Rangers have zero intention to sell striker Hamza Igamane this month, with Bayer Leverkusen, Everton, Nice and Tottenham among the clubs to have scouted the 22-year-old. (TeamTalk), external

FC Zurich defender Nikola Katic, 28, has reportedly received an offer from former club Rangers. (Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Former Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan says referee Nick Walsh should not have shown Rangers' Mohamed Diomande a red card in their 3-1 win over Dundee United.

The midfielder was sent off in added time following an altercation with United's Kevin Holt and, despite a VAR review, Walsh stuck with his original decision.

Rangers have now appealed against the decision.

"Walsh gives a red card, referees you have to trust that that's their instinct because they think it's a red card so they give it they think it's violent conduct," Craigan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But the fact that Don Robertson calls him over to have another look tells you that there's a little bit of doubt in the mind of Robertson.

"Ultimately that puts a little bit of doubt or should put a little bit of doubt in the mind of Walsh.

"But if he's adamant it's a red card and it's classed as violent conduct you only need one or two looks to say fine I've made the right decision, I'm content with it.

"He was there for a period of time and I think the replays that were shown on TV, he looked at the same one which was the high behind I think, which he looked at 10 or 11 times.

"That tells me he had some sort of doubt in his mind and if referees aren't 100 per cent convinced it's a red card, they can't give it."

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Cyriel Dessers says he has "a lot of unfinished business" at the club as he continues to be linked with a move away from Ibrox.

His goal against Dundee United followed his similarly outstanding equaliser at Old Trafford midweek against Manchester United in the Europa League and takes him the 18 goals for the season so far.

Despite his impressive haul so far he has been much maligned and often linked with a move away from Govan, but he isn't phased by the noise: "No talks at all. I don't mind that. I try to focus on the football, the things that are happening on the pitch.

"Those are the things that I can control. And like Sunday, I'm just happy to be out there with the guys and fight for the points and be important. That's what I want.

"There's a lot of unfinished business at Rangers for me.

"That's also why I kept pushing in the last weeks, in the gym, in training, in the minutes that you get, that's because of that.

"I feel like I'm in a good place. I've been feeling that for a couple of weeks. I've been working hard on and off the pitch and then if you get the moments like Sunday to show it, and then you need to show it.

"For a striker, rhythm is so important, but I was happy to be on the pitch to play together with Hamza.

"And I think we have a very good connection, and hopefully that can grow as well."

A handful of Rangers fans voiced their discontent at his introduction in their match against Aberdeen recently but the striker is focussing on the positives.

"For example, the stick that a player like Tav [James Tavernier] gets sometimes, he's a Hall of Fame player, he has scored more than 100 goals for this club, played 400 games, all of this.

"And then I'm thinking, maybe there will always be something to talk about.

"But I just try to enjoy the beautiful moments at this club and I'm lucky that I have plenty of these and those are way more important to me than the few negative moments."

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• Dundee United have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 4 February 2023 against Hearts (16 games without defeat).

• Rangers have won their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer winning streak was from 1 December 2024 to 21 December 2024, a run of four games.

• Rangers have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 14 May 2024 against Dundee (eight games without a win).

• Ianis Hagi and James Tavernier have assisted five goals in the Premiership this season, no Rangers player has more.

• Samuel Dalby has scored 11 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other player.

• Rangers have scored in 21 of their 24 games, no team has done so more often in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have scored in their last 16 games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 28 games from 16 September 2023 to 14 April 2024.

• Rangers have scored in each of their last 16 games in the Premiership, scoring 35 goals in that run.

We asked for your views on Rangers' 3-1 win against Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Ray: Good away win after playing Manchester United, went a goal down then the confidence was coming into the game, all the Rangers goals were well taken with quality. Cyriel Dessers was very good, the red card was a nightmare, no way was that a red card. A very good performance by Rangers, three points to the good.

Sally: Jack Butland seems uncomfortable coming from crosses and is not entirely convincing. Once again Dessers makes the difficult goals look easy. The sending off was a bit soft as players on both teams raised their hands during the incident. Mohamed Diomande did raise his hand deliberately.

Reese: I hope Dessers stays at Rangers because even despite his unlucky run of form, he's a determined player with good sportsmanship and attitude; the inverse of Alfredo Morelos. Those two goals against Manchester United and Dundee United have boosted him a bit. The issue isn't the frontline or midfield, it's the woeful defending. Hoping Rafael Fernandes aids this.

Peter: Going behind early as usual, and it looked as though it was going to be a long afternoon, that said they gave us a few scares. We got into a rhythm in the second half and a better performance. Has Dessers found his real scoring ability, five in three games? Nick Walsh must be blind to these incidents, Diomande must have been fed up with aggressive stuff all afternoon, and Kevin Holt was the instigator here.

Meco: Rangers didn't play too well in the first half, we were not winning the second balls but in the second half we won a lot of the second balls in midfield. I know Robin Propper scored but when big John Souttar is back I would put him and Clinton Nsiala on. A great three points, we move on. I don't get why Diomande got a red card, that was a mistake from the referee in my opinion.