Clement laments Rangers profligacy – but are there bigger issues?

Manager Philippe Clement lamented Rangers’ inability to “kill off” chances after his side shipped four goals in a heavy Europa League defeat by Lyon.

Just two days after Celtic’s chastening 7-1 loss at Borussia Dortmund, their city rivals also suffered a sobering night as they were outclassed by the Ligue 1 visitors.

Although the Ibrox boss conceded his team “were not sharp enough” defensively, he firstly bemoaned a lack of cutting edge in attack. More glaringly, James Tavernier and Vaclav Cerny both missed glorious opportunities early in the contest.

“The scoreline, we don’t reward ourselves clearly,” Clement told TNT Sports.

“So you have two 100% chances – the first chances of the game. You need to kill them off. If it’s 1-0, 2-0, of course it’s a totally different game.

“We go behind by losing balls in places we cannot lose balls and then our defending is not sharp enough.

“In the end we have the same amount of chances as Lyon, same numbers, but the scoreline is clear. And that’s the difference in quality and finishing.”

The two early chances Clement referenced were firstly from captain Tavernier, saved well by Lyon keeper Lucas Perri, before Cerny somehow cleared the bar with the goal gaping from just yards out.

Including those efforts and Tom Lawrence’s brief equaliser, plus the Cyriel Dessers chance that was fluffed seconds before the leveller, Rangers’ total expected goals tally was actually higher than Lyon’s – 2.26 to the away side’s 2.15.

That certainly points to profligacy from Clement’s attack, which has been an issue in the infancy of this season as the Ibrox side seem to struggle to kill teams off.

Asked whether he can accept the stats, which also showed Rangers had more shots than Lyon, the Belgian responded: “No, I cannot. I don’t accept losing games and I don’t accept the level we are at.

“I’m always ambitious to raise the level. I think the very positive thing is that you create that amount of chances against a really good team with good football and good combination play.

“But we need to make the next step to finish off those chances and then you can go to another level.”

However, away from the lack of clinical edge at the top end, it cannot be ignored that Rangers shipped four goals and were fortunate not to have conceded more.

The defeat marked the first time the Ibrox club had shipped four goals at home in the Europa League/Uefa Cup – and for only the third time overall in Europe.

Slack play throughout was their downfall as Lyon’s top-quality attack of Alexandre Lacazette, Rayan Cherki and Malick Fofana preyed on their errors.

Rangers’ shape, particularly in midfield, has been a source of criticism this term and it was unconvincing again on Thursday, playing a part in the visitors being able to regularly slice through the hosts.

Despite going into the game following four straight clean sheets, former Ibrox striker Steven Thompson expressed doubts about his former side’s performance level and suggested their wins had been papering over cracks.

Speaking on Sportsound, he added: “Rangers had built up a wee bit of momentum with the four clean sheets, but the performances, Malmo apart, haven’t been great.

“So maybe they’ve been masking with results instead of performances. The manager will try to get a rhetoric of ‘it’s looking good’. But is it? That’s the question.”

This was a painful night for Rangers. Clement’s men were completely unable to deal with the quality of the French side going forward.

It was competitive for a while, with Lyon – at least in the early stages – just as unconvincing at the back as their hosts.

Like most things in life, of course, you get what you pay for. In Lacazette, Fofana and Cherki, the visitors had the kind of talent Rangers can only dream of.

Lacazette clinical and deadly. Cherki unpredictable and mesmerising. Fofana lightning quick and brimming with talent.

For his two goals and overall contribution, Fofana was player of the match. He had plenty of competition in a Lyon side that was a absolute pleasure to watch, in particular from midfield to front.

It was a steep learning curve for Rangers, who’re used to being far, far more competitive in the Europa League.

This week has been quite the reality check for Scotland’s top two teams and their supporters. Celtic were hit for seven in Dortmund. Rangers were four down inside an hour to a team currently 11th in Ligue 1.

Rangers fans, you have seen the view of Clement and the pundits – now you can have your say.

Click here to send us your views on a sobering Europa League defeat at Ibrox.