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“They’ve got two good strength and depth in their team with I’m scared with be a threat to us”- Dundee United head coach Jim Goodwin revealed two key Rangers players he’s concerned about ahead of their clash, warning his team to be cautious of their threat.
In retrospect, Philippe Clement might have made some different decisions when selecting Rangers’ Europa League squad for the current season.
Back in September, following a contentious Champions League play-off loss to Dinamo Kyiv that saw Rangers relegated to the Europa League, Clement chose not to include Danilo or Ianis Hagi. He later described this decision as “a pity.”
At the time, Danilo was recovering from yet another injury, while Hagi appeared to be on his way out, with a contract dispute that wouldn’t be resolved until months later.
As a result, Clement has had to manage without both players in the Europa League, despite the fact that both have rejuvenated their Rangers careers in domestic competitions.
There is, however, a silver lining. Without the strain of midweek European matches, Hagi has stayed fit and fresh while many of his teammates have struggled with the exhausting fixture list. Though Danilo is sidelined with a “small upper body injury” and will miss a few more weeks, his limited involvement in midweek games has clearly benefited his domestic form.
Clement might also be forgiven for not including Clinton Nsiala in his initial Europa League squad. The summer signing from AC Milan had yet to play any senior matches upon arriving in Glasgow. His rise to prominence, however, came during a defensive crisis in early 2025, with Nsiala impressing in his appearances and earning praise from teammate Ross McCausland, who compared him to Virgil van Dijk. Nsiala is now in contention for Sunday’s match against Dundee United.
Dundee United’s Jim Goodwin, sympathetic to Clement’s difficult task of balancing domestic and European commitments, points out that two key Rangers players—Hagi and Nsiala—will benefit from a week’s rest. Goodwin acknowledges that the Rangers squad is deep, with some players fresh for the upcoming match.
“We know what it’s like having gone through the busy period from Christmas into January. It’s tough when there’s only 48 hours to recover between games,” Goodwin says. “But Rangers have a strong squad, and the players who missed Thursday’s match against Manchester United, like Hagi and Nsiala, will be fresh. We’re focused on our own game plan and need to be brave on the ball and more clinical in front of goal, unlike the second half against Dundee.”
Goodwin also commented on Rangers’ poor away form, with the team only winning three of their 11 Premiership away matches this season. Despite this, their 1-0 win at Tannadice in September remains a bright spot. Tom Lawrence’s early goal was enough to secure the victory.
“I know there’s been a lot of talk about Rangers’ away form, but the only game I can really look back on is their 1-0 win here at Tannadice in September. They’re a good team,” Goodwin reflects. “I thought they played well against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Philippe Clement and his team will take confidence from that. They’ve had their struggles in the league recently, but they have a squad full of international-class players. As always, our focus is on how we can exploit the opposition’s weaknesses.”
