Rangers’ 2024/25 campaign comes to a lifeless end
Rangers’ 2024/25 season has effectively drawn to a close following their Europa League quarter-final exit at the hands of Athletic Club earlier this week.
With their Scottish Cup journey ending in February and Celtic cruising to the Premiership title, the Ibrox side’s remaining five league fixtures now carry little significance.
While manager Philippe Clement shoulders much of the blame, the club’s transfer dealings — both in the summer and winter windows — have significantly contributed to what has been a deeply disappointing season.
Of all the new signings brought in over the past year, very few have met expectations. Robin Propper had the potential to be among the better additions, but his season has been underwhelming.
Robin Propper: A season to forget
The Dutch centre-back arrived with a strong pedigree, having made over 100 appearances for FC Twente and even captaining the side. On paper, his experience and leadership suggested he could be a valuable asset for Rangers.
Nine months later, that promise has failed to materialise. Propper has struggled to adapt to the physical demands of Scottish football, often outmuscled and outpaced by opposing attackers. Even he has admitted to “maybe underestimating” the Premiership’s quality.
In European competition, the numbers haven’t been much kinder — winning just 44% of his aerial duels and losing possession an average of 6.7 times per game. It’s fair to say he hasn’t lived up to the billing.
Robin Propper’s 2024/25 stats for Rangers (per 90 minutes)
Premiership vs Europa League
Accurate passes: 58.6 | 30.3
Tackles: 1.6 | 0.8
Duels won: 5.6 | 2.5
Interceptions: 0.9 | 1
Possession lost: 8.7 | 6.7
Source: Sofascore
Despite this, Propper might not even be Clement’s worst defensive signing this season — that unfortunate distinction could belong to Rafael Fernandes.
The Rafael Fernandes experiment
The January window offered hope of reinforcements, but Rangers only managed to bring in Rafael Fernandes — a move that puzzled fans and has failed to pay off.
The 22-year-old joined on a six-month loan from Lille, with an option to buy. But given his lack of involvement and underwhelming performances when called upon, it’s unlikely the club will exercise that option.
Fernandes has featured for just 91 competitive minutes across four appearances. His full debut in the Scottish Cup against Queen’s Park ended in disaster, with Rangers crashing out after a dismal showing that saw him subbed off after just an hour.
Since then, he has made just one more start — last week against Aberdeen — and is unlikely to play a significant role in the remaining matches.
In his three league appearances, Fernandes has won only 25% of his duels, committed one foul per match, and failed to record a single tackle per game. Opportunities have been limited, but even when on the pitch, he hasn’t made a compelling case.
In truth, it was a puzzling signing from the start, and when the season concludes, Rangers should simply thank Fernandes and send him back to Lille.
Worse signing than Propper: Rangers must axe Ibrox flop who’s played just 91 minutes – opinion
