Former Ibrox defender reckons good times are coming for Rangers and he’s backed them to pip Celtic to the title.
His no-nonsense style and winner-takes-all attitude brought three titles and a remarkable run to the UEFA Cup Final with Rangers. And still now, 12 years after leaving Ibrox, Kirk Broadfoot isn’t messing about when it comes to the possibilities staring his old club in the face over the next five months.
Broadfoot has been blown away by Philippe Clement’s Rangers revolution – and reckons it has the potential to see the Light Blues fight off all comers and complete a domestic clean sweep Not only that though .. and hold onto your hats Gers fans. Broadfoot insists with a bit of luck in the draw and momentum on their side they could even repeat the exploits of his own side in 2008 and Gio van Bronckhorst’s Euro slayers in 2021 by reaching another continental final.
That’s how highly the 39-year-old rates the impact Clement has had since being parachuted in to repair the damage of Michael Beale’s short tenure in charge in Govan. Rangers 16-game unbeaten run under the Belgian may have come crashing to a halt in the New Year Old Firm derby at Parkhead last week. But with the right additions in January, Broadfoot is backing Clement to complete a remarkable turnaround and add the Premiership title and Scottish Cup to the League Cup he’s already tucked away in the trophy cabinet.
Asked if the Treble was a genuine target, he said: “I don’t see why not. Rangers should be pushing for the Treble. The league race will be close as they are evenly matched. But the manager is the right man for the job. You see the impact he’s already had, going his first 16 games unbeaten. That speaks for itself. And you have to remember that he’s still to bring in his own players.
“The fact is he’s got a trophy in the cabinet already which is a very good start. That’s big for any team when a manager is new to a club. It’s good to win any trophy but the League Cup at that stage in the season gives you that winning feeling. It can galvanise the squad to push on and try to win more,
“The league is the big one, though. I think they will push Celtic all the way this year. I think it will be tight, but I think Rangers have the squad and a manager who can push Celtic all the way and win it.”
Broadfoot was signed by the late, great Walter Smith in March 2007 and played under the legendary boss for four years which included that dramatic rollercoaster ride all the way to the UEFA Cup final in Manchester in 2008.
If Smith was renowned for commanding respect from his players then the 39-year-old, still holding his own in the Championship with Morton, can see the same unwavering determination in Clement.
Something that was brought home when he hooked Todd Cantwell after half an hour of the Europa League draw with Aris Limassol. Broadfoot said: “He’s got an aura about him. You can see the squad respects him. Look at the game where he took Cantwell off after roughly 30 minutes. That shows you that he’s not scared to make decisions straight away.
“If he feels that the players are not pulling their weight, he will drop them no matter who they are. He’s won the title in Belgium so you knew he knew what he’s doing before he even arrived.
“I like the way he works and the way he speaks. I think it was the same when Ange Postecoglou was up here with Celtic. You could relate to him. He speaks the truth – black it black and white is white. I think fans can relate to that.”
With nine appearances on the road to Manchester including the final itself, Broadfoot know better than anyone what is required to reach a Euro showpiece.
Kirk Broadfoot during a Viaplay Cup match
A big factor is a slice of luck in the draw. Rangers have already made their own fortune by winning Group C thus avoiding the play-off round and going straight into the last 16. And Broadfoot said: “It will be a tough ask, there’s no getting away from that.
“It’s probably even more difficult now with the quality of teams who are dropping out of the Champions League.
“Back in our day, we played Fiorentina in the semis and in the other was between Bayern Munich and Zenit St Petersburg, who obviously went on to win it. If anything, it’s got harder but you can never say never. It’s happened twice in recent times so it’s clearly possible.
“A wee bit of luck in the draw always helps. They beat Borussia Dortmund when they got to the final a couple of years ago and you would have probably have said they were the favourites to win it outright.
“They are in a habit of winning knockout ties after Christmas and it’s a good habit to be in.
“I know they lost the Old Firm game, but they got back on track right away against Kilmarnock. So, they’ve got that winning mentality ingrained at the club.
“Rangers have got a big enough squad to cope with the demands. I think the fans also demand it. You never want to say ‘let’s go out of Europe so we can concentrate on the league’.
“You want to be fighting for both. I do believe they’ve got a big enough squad that they should be looking to do that.”
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