Rabbi Matondo given Rangers roadmap by Philippe Clement as winger has final destination in mind
The Gers wide man has struggled with injuries this season but make an impression with his goal in Tueaday's Copenhagen clash
Rabbi Matondo reckons Rangers are going places under Philippe Clement.
The Ibrox winger wants to be along for the ride – and he’s hoping it takes him all the way to Germany. The Welsh wide man is determined to impress the new boss after suffering an injury hit first half of the season. Matondo notched a beauty in Tuesday’s 2-2 friendly draw with Copenhagen at Ibrox and wants to use the display as a springboard for the rest of the season.
The former Man City and Schalke ace is out to play a part in the push to add the Premiership title and Scottish Cup to the Viaplay Cup crown landed last month. And he also has the added incentive of facing his way back into the Wales squad as the Dragons make their final bid for the Euros. Rob Page’s side face Finland in the play-off semi-finals in March and a spot alongside Scotland in Germany is still up for grabs.
Matondo has 11 caps so far and would love to add more on the biggest stage. He said: “I’m going to try and do my best for the team and hopefully you get rewarded with special opportunities to represent your country in tournaments like the Euros.
“That’s the aim. I’ll give my all for Rangers, like I always have done, and hopefully that will be enough to be help me with my national team and everything else.
“Everyone wants to represent their country on those stages but ultimately it comes from how well you do at your club. It’s obviously a privilege to represent your country and it comes from putting in performances for your club.
“My biggest thing right now is to concentrate on Rangers and giving my all for the team. Ultimately, if I do that and I do it well, it gives me a better chance of representing my country, Wales.
“Any player will tell you that if they can represent their country at the Euros, World Cup or any stage like that then it’s big for them. Of course, it would be big for me. But like I said, I need to give my all for Rangers.
“We’ve got an important games and tournaments that we’re involved in. Ultimately if I do well in that then it gives me a better chance.”
Matondo knows he has to do the business for Gers and he revealed he’s already had a heart-to-heart with Clement over his short-term future. The 23-year-old has showed flashes of the ability that helped him earn an £11m move from Man City to the Bundesliga in 2019.
But he’s made just six starts all season struggled to put together consistent runs of form for the Light Blues and Clement has laid out a plan to get the Welsh attacker involved. Matondo said: "The manager has always been straightforward with me on what I need to do, what I need to work on, what I am good at and what I can get better at.
"Obviously one of them was being consistent with my shooting and position and things like that but overall we had a positive chat to help me for the second half of the season and in my career, to improve on certain aspects of my game.
“We have a lot of games to play and trophies to play for and obviously the manager was and is still trying to get the best out of us in terms of fitness. So yeah, it will obviously be important in the next weeks and months.”
Matando was thrilled to get on the scoresheet there other night with his brilliant run and slick finish. The task is now to build on it domestically and add to his two goals for the season so far.
The 23-year-old missed a big opportunity against Copenhagen moments before his strike but he can sense the hard work starting to pay off after his injury frustration. Matondo said: “That’s what we’ve been working on, you know. Maybe I thought it was a bit more easy in my head and that “I’ve got this”. That wasn’t the case, of course, but I made sure with the second one that I was precise in the finish I went with.
“It’s obviously difficult to be injured but it happens in football. You have to come back and try and find the rhythm – get back and show what you are capable of.
“It’s not always easy. But with what the manager wants and how demanding he is, it makes it easy and clear. It’s then down to you to get to the levels and try and improve from being injured.”
The arrival of Flabio Silva has added to Clement’s attacking options but the door could be open in the wide areas with Abdallah Sima away at the African Cup of Nations. Matondo said: "Not just for myself but for everyone in and around the position that we all play.
"Obviously Abdallah has done unbelievably well and obviously I wish him all the best at the AFCON but for all of us, it is an opportunity for all us to try to give our all and help the team, most importantly.
“I can play wherever the manager wants me to play, along the front three or at 10. I just try and give my all, but ultimately I’d say left side is probably my natural side.
"Obviously my aim is to give my all individually and best for the team and hopefully that is enough for the team and the manager. There is obviously going to be competition and there always is at a club like Rangers so it is not a problem, you have just got to believe in yourself and keep grafting away.”