Rangers manager Philippe Clement recently spoke about Nicolas Raskin’s playing time. Clement explained the reasons behind Raskin’s limited playing time, mentioning five other players who are currently ahead of him in line for a starting spot.
Clement expressed his empathetic stance towards Raskin’s predicament, acknowledging the initial promise the young midfielder exhibited under his stewardship. He reminisced, “Nico has been unlucky. He started really well and played the first game [after I was appointed] and scored. He was one of our best players that day.”
The manager elaborated on the subsequent challenges faced by Raskin, citing a period of injury that disrupted his momentum, coupled with intensified competition in the midfield. He remarked, “We have a lot of guys who did a lot of good things and Nico is among them, with Lunny [John Lundstram] the stable factor all the time.”
Clement highlighted the formidable competition Raskin encounters, delineating the contributions of key players such as Kieran Dowell, Tom Lawrence, Mohammed Diomande, and Dujon Sterling. He emphasized the necessity of such competition within a top-tier team for sustained performance and success.
Rangers boss revealed the starting lineup pecking order, with Lundstram, Dosswell, Lawrence, Diomande, and Sterling ahead of Raskin. This explains why Raskin struggles to get regular starts despite playing more than some on this list.