Former coach offers Rabbi Matondo verdict as Rangers winger can be ‘game-changer’ at Ibrox
Miron Muslic has said that he believes Rabbi Matondo can be a Premier League standard player if Rangers can help him build his confidence at Ibrox.
The Welsh winger, who has been one of Michael Beale’s most positive performers this season, seems to have begun to find his feet in Glasgow after a difficult first campaign with the Light Blues, where he failed to score in 28 appearances.
But Cercle Brugge boss Muslic, who was a coach when the 23-year-old joined the Belgian club on loan for the 2021-22 campaign, believes that the Gers have a real talent on their hands if they can harness the best of Matondo’s abilities.
Speaking with Rangers Review on Wednesday (13 September) he said: “He needs confidence, he needs to play in an environment where he feels comfortable. He is 23, still a young profile and is ready to perfectly shine. If you can give him confidence and trust at Rangers, he showed in the PSV tie what he can do.
“With his weapon of pace, it’s a nightmare for centre-backs. If you have Rabbi Matondo with confidence on the pitch, that for me (he) is a Premier League profile. Imagine you have a lead and put him on for the last 15/20 minutes, with one action he can kill teams.
“I know him, he’s capable, he can be a game-changer for Rangers this season.”
The talent is there
There is no doubt that Matondo has plenty of ability to set both Ibrox and the footballing world alight, but for whatever reason it has only been displayed in glimpses since he made the switch to Glasgow from Schalke.
But the praise from his former coach should act as a reminder of just how bright a star the Light Blues have on their books currently, he has pace that will genuinely terrify defenders and even “kill teams” as Muslic put it.
The difference now is doing it at one of the most intense football clubs in the world and in front of a fanbase where expectations are high and winning should be a given. At Rangers, the stakes will be higher than anything the Welsh international has experienced before and this season he has to show that he has the ability to cope with those expectations.
Muslic suggested that the 23-year-old’s best position will be cutting in from the left and even compared his finishing ability when driving in from the flank to the type of strike normally associated with Thierry Henry. As Beale was unable to find his desired Ryan Kent replacement this summer, maybe Matondo can be that man.
Hopefully, the attacker will be able to harness that immense potential he possesses and make the transition from an impact player to a consistent starter. The tools are there, he just needs to utilise them more often.
In other Rangers news, Andy Walker has slammed the Light Blues’ handling of Borna Barisic’s contract situation