Jose Cifuentes stinks again on Ecuador international duty, new Rangers manager could arrive in panic mode
Jose Cifuentes was ripped apart by the Ecuadorian media after the Rangers midfielder struggled yet again for his country on Thursday, and whichever new manager walks in through the Ibrox doors could arrive in a real panic.
Cifuentes was hooked off in the 55th minute of Ecuador’s 2026 World Cup qualifier in La Paz against Bolivia with his teammates going on to win the game 2-1 thanks to a late stoppage time goal by Kevin Rodriguez.
However, it was another inept performance from the Rangers summer signing, who has largely been ineffective at Ibrox since his move from Los Angeles FC in the MLS, after he was handed a disappointing 5.7/10 rating in his last international outing for his country against Argentina (8 September).
And it was a similar story on Thursday as several news outlets and journalists in Ecuador let it rip on the 24-year-old midfielder after his disappointing performance.
Newspaper Primacias awarded the ex-LAFC man with a match rating of 5/10, saying: “He was called upon to promote the circulation of the ball, but he made too many impressions and was not the partner that Moisés [Caicedo] needed. With his departure at 55′, the impression was left that his opportunities to show that he deserves to be a starter have run out.”
Radio Diblu journalist Kevin Verdezoto added that Cifuentes had “no influence” and that his opportunities with Ecuador are “running out due to poor performance” while Radio Diblu panellist Rogelio Arosemena took to Twitter to rip into Cifuentes:
“José Cifuentes must be presented as a more useful tool.
“He is doing the minimum, he does not take risks and he does not transcend.
“It lacks explosiveness, dynamics and creation.”
Cifuentes arrived at Ibrox to much enthusiasm and fanfare following his destructive performances for Los Angeles Football Club in the MLS.
The 24-year-old was certainly the midfield weapon Rangers desperately needed, providing much aggression, energy, cutting-edge and progressive play either from deep in midfield or in the advanced roles.
However, the Ecuadorian hasn’t shown such qualities so far in his time in Scotland his poor performances for his country are a serious worry as he was expected to find some form back with his international teammates.
The international break was supposed to provide him with a welcome breathing space, potentially shining for his country in order to take that form and confidence to kickstart his Ibrox career.
With Rangers desperately on the prowl for a new manager right now and expected to make a new managerial appointment before the international break concludes next week [Chris Jack, 6 October], he could well arrive at Ibrox in a real state of panic.
The Rangers midfield is looking rather depleted right now following injuries and a fair few lacklustre performances in recent weeks and given the camaraderie around Cifuentes’ signing when he joined, he was supposed to provide the telling solution.
However, that idea seems far-fetched and whoever comes in at Ibrox over the next week, with former Monaco manager Philippe Clement the reported favourite, certainly won’t have an easy ride fixing the Gers’ midfield issues, until the January transfer window at least.
Can a new manager get Cifuentes to perform the way he was at LAFC? If he could, it would be a major boost at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, BBC presenter shares what he’s been told about Rangers manager hunt.