‘What I will say is’… Barry Ferguson on what blew him away about Philippe Clement after one-to-one in La Manga

Ferguson was even more convinced than before that the Rangers have the proper guy at the helm to guide them into the future when the former Ibrox captain ran into the Belgian.

Rangers fans are well aware that since arriving on Scottish soil in October, Clement has been nothing short of extraordinary. He gives off the impression of being a respectable manager, and players shouldn’t mess with him.

Clement brought the Viaplay Cup back to Ibrox in November and proved he has what it takes to win silverware at Rangers. His squad at the moment is probably nowhere near where he wants it to be so with a few transfer windows under his belt, the possibilities in terms of growth are seemingly endless.

Ferguson has already been on record countless times how impressed he has been with Clement and now, after meeting him face-to-face in La Manga, the 45-year-old can offer a deeper understanding of the ex-Club Brugge manager’s character.

Barry Ferguson on Philippe Clement

Here is Ferguson’s writing from his weekly column in the Daily Record regarding his meeting with Clement.

He declared: “I had the pleasure of running into Philippe Clement at the team hotel last Saturday night after dinner while I was over at the Rangers training camp in La Manga last week. Since his hiring, I had not had the opportunity to present myself to the manager before.

The conversation on football and Scottish life in general was enjoyable. What I will say, though, is that I left that conversation smiling because it validated my suspicions, which I had formed even from a distance.

“Trust me when I say it, this guy really gets what Rangers are all about. And I can think of no bigger compliment to pay him. He’s a straight-talking man who doesn’t use big words or any fancy dan phrases.

“He’s just a down to earth football man who understands what it means to be in charge of this club and the demands that come with the job. Most of all, he realises that the key to life as the Rangers manager is to be a winner.

To be completely honest, I’m not easily impressed. However, as I was leaving, I thought to myself, “That’s one impressive individual—this guy really understands what it’s all about.”

Additionally, I’ve had a lot of encounters with management. Some positive. Others, not so much. So when I see one, I know it’s a proper one. He is completely aware of the expectations, demands, and club. I also got the impression that my former club is in very capable hands.

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