Nacho Novo Urges Rangers Supporters To Get Behind Clement And Team

Nacho Novo is confident Rangers will return from the latest international break firing on all cylinders to give beleaguered manager Philippe Clement a much-needed boost.

The Light Blues are nine points behind champions Celtic and Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership table, and some fans have been calling for the head of the Belgian.

Rangers bounced back from losing to Aberdeen with wins against Motherwell in the League Cup semi-final and Hearts in the Premiership.

In between, they drew 1-1 with Olympiacos to sit in 10th spot at the halfway stage of the new 32-team group format of the Europa League and are 12/1 with football betting sites to finish in the top eight.

Novo, a three-time title winner with the Glasgow giants, believes Gers could have done without the break with momentum on their side, but has urged supporters to get behind Clement and the players in order to get back on track.

When asked whether Clement could turn things around at Ibrox, the Spaniard told Gambling.com: "I hope so. It's very tough. At the moment he's the manager and we need to support him. Hopefully he's going to change something. 

"If he leaves, then who are they going to bring in? That’s another question. It needs to be the right person. At the moment he's the club’s manager and we need to respect that. Hopefully, something will change.

"It's a very tough situation at the moment. But hopefully the boys come back from their week off and changes start happening soon.

"Rangers had won two games in a row, so it would have been better just to keep playing. But sometimes a reset is not a bad thing, and hopefully they come back stronger. It’s still early in the season and we need to improve a lot of things."

Novo Stands Up For Dessers

One player who could improve his shots-to-goal ratio is Cyriel Dessers, who has been criticised by some fans for missing too many chances.

The 29-year-old Nigeria striker has netted just four times in the league this season, but has scored in his last three appearances – all in different competitions.

Novo was no stranger to finding the net, scoring 47 goals in 147 appearances in six seasons with Gers following his move from Dundee 20 years ago.

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However, Novo is unconcerned Dessers fluffs his lines occasionally, and recalled a sage piece of advice he received from a Rangers legend.

He said: "Dessers is a good player. Ally McCoist used to tell me all the time after I’d missed a chance that you only need to worry when you are not creating any chances. As long as you’re getting in areas and you create chances - even if you miss.

"But at the same time, a lot of football works on confidence. He needs to have a little bit more support and for more people to go forward to help him."

Rangers Should Make Miller Priority

Novo would love to see Motherwell youngster Lennon Miller join Rangers, although they would face stiff competition from Celtic.

The 18-year-old midfielder recently captained Scotland’s U19 team in the goalless draw with their French counterparts and was reportedly watched by scouts from Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa.

But Novo, who played with Lennon’s father, former Scotland international Lee, at Carlisle, believes the teenager would be better off at Rangers where he is likely to get more game time.

"It's a difficult one," Novo said. "He's a very talented player, but I don't know if he will decide to go to Rangers or Celtic. It depends on how much he's going to play at Celtic, and how much he's going to play at Rangers.

"Maybe he will play more games for Rangers because they need quality and fresh legs. I played with his dad at Carlisle United, and he was a good striker.

"I would love it if Rangers signed him, because he's very good and very mature for his age. He’s only 18 but he looks as if he’s an experienced player. He can only get better and better."

Thelin A Revelation At Pittodrie

The Old Firm dominance has been broken this season by Aberdeen, whose manager Jimmy Thelin has made a big impression since joining the club from Elfsborg on a three-year deal in June.

Novo says the Swede has exceeded all expectations with the Dons, who finished in the bottom half of the table last season.

They have taken 31 points from a possible 33 in an unbeaten start to the campaign, with their perfect record spoiled only by a thrilling 2-2 draw with Celtic, who went on to thrash them 6-0 in the Scottish League Cup semi-final a fortnight later.

Asked whether he has been taken aback by Thelin’s success, Novo said: "Yes, very. Obviously, they’re unbeaten in the league, and the manager has done very well. 

"Normally managers when they come in say they're going to build and that it's going to take at least two or three years. 

"But he’s done it in months, working on a small budget of two million, so that's very good. And they’re improving all the time. 

"The semi-final against Celtic was a tough one, but they just came back and kept winning. And they're at the top in the league as well."

Agent Told Me To Choose Raith Over Valencia

Novo, back in the country following a coaching spell in the USA, recalls moving to Scotland from Huesca in 2001, although he had been expecting to join a bigger club than Raith Rovers.

He said: "That was the funniest moment of my life. I thought Valencia wanted to sign me. 

"My agent told me, ‘say no, you want to go to Scotland’. I said, ‘Scotland, where? Valencia want to sign me. Valencia has good weather, nice women, nice beaches - everything like that.' And he told me that I couldn’t make it [to Valencia], and he sent me to Kirkcaldy."

"I had just come back and started playing and done very well in my first season, scoring 28 goals for Huesca. 

"It's a small city [Kirkcaldy] but many good people helped me so much. I will always be grateful for them. 

"Even just helping me to go around the city and buy some shopping, as I couldn’t really communicate. But it was a great move [joining Raith Rovers]."