This week could see Europa League qualification secured and a first piece of silverware in the bag for the Light Blues.
The Avenida de la Palmera, which runs past the Estadio Benito Villamarin, is bordered on both sides by vibrant orange trees in full bloom.
The scenic environment is ideal for a Rangers team about to embark on a crucial week that they believe will yield significant results. It wasn’t long ago that the streets of Glasgow sprinkled surrounding Ibrox lost all faith in this Light Blues team.
Frankly the notion that it was capable of plucking anything from the bunch of prizes on offer this season looked far fetched as they slipped on banana skin after banana skin. But thanks to Philippe Clement’s careful cultivation since he was called in to replace Michael Beale two months ago, there are green shoots of recovery emerging for the Light Blues. And the fruits of their labour could yet be juicy. Win tonight in Seville and they’ll be into the last 16 of the Europa League, back it up on Sunday against Aberdeen and there will be Viaplay Cup glory to lap up at Hampden.
And if they can maintain their resurgence under the big Belgian all the way to their Old Firm date at Celtic Park on December 30, then there might just be a second bite at the cherry where the Premiership title race is concerned. All Clement’s side have to do is continue planting seeds of success.
“I feel something special in the group,” said the Ibrox boss. “I feel there is a really good dynamic. I’ve seen it the last few weeks and I see it growing in this dressing room and on the pitch.
“I’m very excited but I’m also calm and focused. When you are too excited, you lose control, you lose overview. That cannot happen. The most important thing is that the players keep on doing what they are doing.
“Did I think I’d have it this soon? To be honest, I don’t know how long I have been here now. It feels like at least one year already.
“I’m not bothered about the past and the level of players they had before or whatever. It’s about now, it’s about the future and what the team is doing.
“I see a team who are working really hard, who are really focussed. On the flight over, I spoke to two players about individual actions, using video clips. Everyone is really, really focused on becoming better.
“This is a group where a lot of players still have potential to grow. I don’t see many players who are at their top yet. That’s interesting for a coach, to help them and guide them in that.
Rangers’ James Tavernier celebrates with Cyriel Dessers and Abdallah Sima
Rangers’ James Tavernier celebrates with Cyriel Dessers and Abdallah Sima (Image: SNS Group)
“I saw it at the weekend too after going behind against Dundee. Everybody stayed with confidence and played good football.
“We scored four good goals – although we only got three at the end of the game! We went with 10 but there was no doubt in the team. We didn’t give any more chances in the second half, we created good chances.
“There’s a really good dynamic and I see several players becoming better and better. And we need to continue that story against a really good team.”
Gers stunned Betis in their Group C opener when Beale was still in the man calling the shots at Ibrox. But Clement knows penning a repeat won’t be easy having seen Manuel Pellegrini’s side hold the Galacticos of Real Madrid at bay in Saturday’s 1-1 draw.
He said: “Every game is different. This is a new game with a different style. Betis have a different style to Sparta and Aris, so every game has its own story.
“If a team like Real Madrid doesn’t win here, we don’t have to say that ‘we need to win here or it’s a disgrace’. No it’s going to be a really big test but how many home games have they lost this season? If you say it’s simple, it’s not simple.
“Otherwise teams would have done it, good teams like Real Madrid. We have a lot of respect for them but we come here with ambition.
“It’s a game where Rangers have nothing to lose, we are in Europe after the New Year [in the Conference League]. But we come here with a big ambition because we want to make that next step as a group.
“I have given them several challenges over the past few weeks and almost every time the team passed the test. Now is the next one, maybe the biggest one we have faced. So we are going to go for it.”
Rangers will have to go further than any opponent has managed at the Benito Villamarin this season. All four of Betis’ losses this term have come on the road and in Isco, the La Liga outfit have a star man with five Champions League winner’s medals hanging in his locker following nine triumphant years at the Bernabeu.
Handling the silky Spaniard will be key but the Ibrox gaffer was giving little away. Speaking to one of the local reporters, Clement said: “I know he used to play with Real Madrid. A few years ago we were with Brugge in Madrid and he was there. He’s a good player, of course. But I don’t want to tell you our plans, maybe you are the son of the coach!
“No, we’re not going to speak about plans for the game but for sure Isco is a very important player. Not only for Betis, but he was important for Real and played good games in the Spanish national team also. We know his qualities but he is not the only good player. They have several good players.
“It’s clear Rangers is a club with a big history so this will be an interesting game. It’s two teams who want to play football, who have an attacking style. I think for sure it will be a good game for everyone to watch.”
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