When an open goal was presented to Vaclav Cerny the Czech winger found the Broomloan end instead, while the manager could do little about Connor Barron’s decision to wrap a blind pass into the feet of Malick Fofana just after Tom Lawrence equalised the game.
Similarly, the Belgian couldn’t control John Souttar being outmanoeuvred by Alexandre Lacazette all too easily before the Lyon captain found the far corner on the stroke of half-time, the inability of four to put a halt to Rayan Cherki waltzing on his way to assist Fofana’s opener or James Tavernier losing the attacker altogether at the back post as that same combination added a fourth after the break.
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The xG during the interval of Rangers’ Europa League loss read 1.94-1.21 in the hosts’ favour, although that number is slightly false given a Lawrence shot immediately proceeded Cerny’s chance, and Cyriel Dessers effort the Rangers goal.
Although the French side arrived in Glasgow on the back of an underwhelming start to the season they spent nearly 150million Euros this summer. Cherki and Fofana were in moments genuinely untouchable, too quick or clever to even be stopped by a cynical foul. Clement was keen to emphasise the financial disparity in the build-up to last night’s defeat which begs the question – was the tactical set-up reflective of his judgement?
Clement can justifiably point to the fact that an ambitious approach earned Cerny’s early chance and Lawrence’s goal. Tavernier himself had the game’s first big opening after three minutes, popping up at the back post as he has done so often yet seeing a powerful effort blocked.
Speaking afterwards, Clement reasoned that: “1-4 is a really harsh result, if you see. In the end, it’s the same amount of chances that both teams have, and we had more in the first half, but it was 1-3 with half-time, and that’s the difference in quality, that they’re more killing those moments and don’t need many chances to score goals.”
The xG racechart vindicates him to a degree. Tavernier’s early chance had a higher rating than Fofana’s (0.19 to 0.13) and Lacazette scored his side’s clear opening (0.53) while Cerny blazed over (0.57).
(Image: StatsBomb) Indeed, even the Lyon manager Pierre Sage admitted his side were lucky to have not fallen behind early on, suggesting: “Our backs were up against the walls in the first 10 mins. Rangers could have taken the lead and would have deserved it. But we scored just after they equalised and that was the worst possible moment for them.”
Clement’s argument fails to consider the one he made a day previously, however – Lyon’s superior talent meant that similar chances at either end garnered different results. While the home side had a higher xG, the visitors’ Post-Shot xG was far stronger (3.95 to 2.01). Meaning that on the basis of shot quality the French side were worthy of their four goals. Their keeper, Lucas Perri, saved 1.01 shots above average while Jack Butland came in at -0.05. Their forwards found the corners while Rangers’ missed the target.
To be a little more old-fashioned about it, you can’t miss the type of chances Rangers did while making errors at your own end.
Rangers’ tactical approach was the reason for those early openings cited, but it’s also fair to suggest that they played a big part in the chances conceded.
Tavernier’s high positioning and instinct to attack the box has catalysed so many famous nights at this ground. That freedom has always been part of a wider plan to compensate, however. Ryan Jack on the cover, a back three to facilitate wing-backs or a lop-sided tactical approach with a deeper left-back on the opposite flank.
Although Jefte may well pack a fair punch of pace he was required to offer natural width and threatening runs in behind against the French side. Meaning all too often Robin Propper and John Souttar, two players who have formed a good partnership in recent weeks but lack natural pace, were left isolated in big areas against a lot of speed.
Look at the positioning of either full-back in Rangers’ pass network and consider the space left next to Propper and Souttar, where Cherki and Fofana could run riot.
(Image: StatsBomb) Compare it to the relatively conservative stationings of Lyon’s full-backs, facilitating their own high wingers.
(Image: StatsBomb) It was Tavernier’s freedom to attack the box that earned him a chance he’s scored so often on these nights after three minutes. Below, Rangers have Barron dropping back to form a back three while the full-backs push up. However, Cherki and Fofana staying high with so much space ahead of them, rather than tracking each full-back, was a sign of things to come.
(Image: StatsBomb) On the left side, Jefte’s high positioning played a key role in creating the equaliser, and Cerny’s big miss. However, the Brazilian had so much work to do – supporting the attack on the left and recovering to stop Cherki.
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(Image: StatsBomb) The spaces Clement’s side left open pushing either full-back high were bound to cause issues at some point. While the French side’s second goal was the result of Barron making a big error playing a blind pass in midfield, look at Tavernier’s positioning compared to Fofana and the spaces next to Rangers’ centre-backs.
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(Image: StatsBomb) Similarly, consider this chance on the half-hour mark that nearly saw the home side concede a third. Tavernier is racing forward to try and force the issue from right-back as his side transitions forward on the left.
(Image: StatsBomb) However, when the ball breaks to the edge of the area, this space is totally vacant. Barron was forced to cover areas on either side of the pitch with Mohamed Diomande also pushing high and Fofana could well have scored a second earlier in the game after running beyond Souttar.
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(Image: StatsBomb) The 19-year-old winger’s carries were so often in transition moments from deep.
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The question is, if Clement was not altering from his usual shape, was this not a game better suited to the stronger defensive capabilities of Neraysho Kasanwirjo or Dujon Sterling? His decision to bring on the former after an hour in place of Tavernier seemed to suggest so.
The former has spent much of his career as a centre-back, boasts recovery pace and is a natural version of inverted full-back. Sterling, although rarely played in his favoured position since joining from Chelsea, is probably the squad’s best one-v-one defender. Should one of those two individuals not have played from the off?
Jack Butland’s summary, speaking to TNT Sports, told the story of the game well. “They are a really good team with serious individual quality. The disappointment is we gave them too many chances to showcase that. We needed a different approach. There wasn’t enough from us at the moments we had to make a foul, stop them getting into their stride.”
Clement was right in a sense to point at chances created and the varying clinical edges post-match – but did his disclaimer of quality the day prior not prove that a little more pragmatism was required?
