After all that has gone on behind the scenes and on the pitch at Rangers in this nascent season, Thursday’s comfortable Europa League win in Malmo felt as though it was needed.
Manager Philippe Clement said it was the “perfect start” to their campaign, and also agreed it was their best performance of the term so far.
However, the Rangers boss was also clear there is plenty to improve on, not least their ruthlessness in front of goal.
Nonetheless, there was a hint of relief from Clement that his team had started to prove him right amid a difficult start to the campaign and questions over the club’s transfer strategy.
“I’m happy everybody will start to see there were really good things done in the transfer window,” the Belgian said.
“Cutting the wages but bringing in young exciting players, experienced ones too. There is good balance in the squad in that way.
“This team can grow to become better than last season. That’s the goal and it was not easy with the situation we were in.”
Summer signings show quality
Clement’s words were considered but instructive of a man who was quickly needing proof from some signings they could cut the mustard at Rangers.
It was a big help that Nedim Bajrami cleverly followed up Cyriel Dessers’ effort to give Rangers the lead after only 56 seconds in Sweden.
The Albania international impressed on the left wing, creating four chances while hitting the target three times himself, and winning the ball back on eight occasions, more than any other Rangers player.
Neraysho Kasanwirjo, the Feyenoord loanee, made his debut as an emergency left-back and fitted in seamlessly, defending comfortably while getting forward to get on the end of a good move, which he should have finished.
Centre-back Robin Propper also put in his most convincing display, helping restrict Malmo to a single shot on goal alongside John Souttar.
“You see more and more that players get connections,” Clement added.
“The amount of players who were not here one or two months ago, the team is making a massive step forward to play that kind of football in this environment against that kind of opponent.”
Finishing ‘has to improve’
For all the positive play, Rangers’ most glaring shortcoming in Malmo was their lack of ruthless edge, something which haunted them last season too.
In the end it did not matter such was their dominance and the Swedes’ lack of bite up the other end.
But Kasanwirjo, Dessers, and Vaclav Cerny all passed up gilt-edged chances and there were others which should have been dispatched.
Clement says they will “continue to work on” their end product, and pointed to the fact winger Ross McCausland banged in the second goal on his weaker left foot, having worked tirelessly to improve his technique.
Ally McCoist, who knows a thing or two about finishing, said Rangers’ play in front of goal “has to improve”.
“They weren’t half chances,” the former Rangers striker said on TNT Sports. “They were great chances to score and put the game beyond any shadow of a doubt.
“You might get away with it in some games in Scotland, and very occasionally in Europe. But against the better teams you won’t.
“It might seem harsh to be talking about missed chances when Rangers have played so well, but it has to improve.”
Can Rangers build on this?
The next question is whether Rangers can keep building on this impressive display.
They have a tough Europa League fixture list, with Lyon next, and games against both Tottenham and Manchester United to come as well.
Already five points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, the key is for Rangers to keep delivering displays like this.
Otherwise, the questions will only intensify again.
“To get a result here in Sweden, it should give all the players and staff a lift,” former Rangers striker Steven Thompson said on BBC Scotland’s Sportsound.
“There was negativity at Rangers in the summer surrounding what was happening at Ibrox and with transfers.
“You want to shake that off as quickly as you can, so a result like tonight is massive for the club.
“They need to kick on and use this as a tool to improve.”