St Johnstone manager Steven MacLean had high praise for Rangers’ Rabbi Matondo following his stunning performance in their recent 2-0 victory in the Scottish Premiership clash at McDiarmid Park. The Welsh winger’s superb goal left an indelible mark on the match, prompting MacLean to commend his skills.
Matondo’s remarkable goal not only earned him accolades from his current manager but also drew comparisons to his previous stint with Cercle Brugge in the 2021/22 season. His former coach, Miron Muslic, fondly reminisced about the player’s loan spell and his penchant for executing what he termed a ‘Thierry Henry finish.’ This reference to the legendary Arsenal striker’s style of play was not to be taken lightly.
Describing the goal, Matondo displayed the finesse and technique reminiscent of Henry, cutting inside onto his favored right foot before calmly slotting the ball into the far corner of the net. It was a move straight out of the Arsenal legend’s playbook, showcasing Matondo’s exceptional talent and composure.
In a twist of fate, Matondo lived up to the ‘Henry finish’ comparison by opening his league account for the new season just days after Muslic’s comments. This time, it was a goal that perfectly embodied the style attributed to Henry. Matondo seized a defense-splitting pass from Tom Lawrence and effortlessly beat Dimitar Mitov with only ten minutes left in regular time. His performance was so reminiscent of Henry in his prime that, had Matondo been dressed in red instead of blue, one could have easily mistaken him for the French football icon from the mid-2000s.
Manager Steven MacLean expressed his disappointment in St. Johnstone’s defensive performance during the match. “We spoke about during the week that Rangers put a lot of crosses in the box. And we don’t mark in the box, which is disappointing,” MacLean lamented. Matondo’s goal sealed the victory after Danilo had earlier scored from a trademark James Tavernier cross in the first half. MacLean emphasized the importance of maintaining possession and not giving the ball away in dangerous areas.
Miron Muslic, Matondo’s former coach, also weighed in on the player’s potential, suggesting that, when in peak form and confidence, Matondo could be a ‘£15 million’ footballer. Such high praise is not unwarranted, especially considering Matondo’s impactful start to his second season at Rangers. Despite a reported price tag of around £3 million, Matondo’s performances are making that figure seem like a shrewd investment.