Philippe Clement says one Rangers loanee handled the occasion against Benfica on Thursday night in the Europa League very well.
At the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Fabio Silva gave an incredible performance in an odd position out on the left wing, helping the Gers to a respectable 2-2 tie.
Just before halftime, Dujon Sterling’s close range strike gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. The 21-year-old was a genuine menace.
Silva, a Portuguese talent on loan from Wolves, showed he can be adaptable when needed, and his energy and willingness to pursue runners were also noteworthy that evening.
Despite having four wingers missing from the matchday roster, Silva allayed concerns about his ability to play wide and compete against elite players.
During Silva’s post-match press conference, Clement expressed his gratitude for the 21-year-old’s ability to manage his emotions on the field.
Before moving to rival Porto, Silva spent two years as a youth player for Benfica. And that meant the home crowd would always have a hard time with him.
However, Silva was deemed by Philippe Clement to have handled that admirably, and it is evident that the unhappiness of the Estadio da Luz stands had no effect on him.
Philippe Clement on Fabio Silva
Clement stated, as cited in The Irish News, “Fabio is growing.” At age 21, he is still a young player. Before he joined the Rangers, we had numerous conversations about his job and potential possibilities.
We discussed him as a striker and as a player who could play around the striker or on the left side. He demonstrated his abilities in this game and can play all of these roles.
“You can see that he feels like he fits in with the team and has adapted into it rather rapidly. He brings a lot of enthusiasm and a smile to the team when he plays.
He possesses his traits and is becoming increasingly adept at managing his feelings. That was something we discussed a lot—that’s the next thing he should do.
“Considering how he managed the hostile environment and intense attention he received during the Lisbon game, I am really pleased with his performance. To prove to everyone that he is a talented player, he nevertheless played for the team.
“It’s important to me that he played to be a good player for Rangers.”
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