GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JULY 18: A general view during the pre-season friendly match between Rangers and Newcastle at Ibrox Stadium on July 18, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Sander Berge was only twenty-one years old when Genk competed for the Belgian championship. But as they went on to raise the league flag, Philippe Clement managed to have him performing like a thirty-year-old.
The Pro League team had only won it three times in their history going into 2019 and hadn’t been champions for nearly a decade.All of that was altered, though, by new Rangers gaffer Clement. He combined some experience with a group of young, gifted players, which included Berge.
As a result, they overcame all odds to defeat formidable opponents like Club Brugge and Standard Liege and win the championship. Following their triumph, Clement was courted by Brugge, where he quickly won two more titles. Additionally, a few of the youth he had nurtured at the Cageka Arena made significant advancements. Sheffield United paid a club record £22 million to acquire Berge. After signing a £14 million contract with Brighton, Leandro Trossard chose to join Arsenal.
The list is endless: Mbwanna Samatta went to Aston Villa for £9 million, Ruslan Malinovsky and Joachim Maehle to Atalanta for a combined £25 million. And Berge, who is currently with Burnley in the Premier League, believes Clement had a significant role in making it happen.
According to the 25-year-old, the current Ibrox CEO is among the best in the industry. And he will always remember the impact he had on the development of his career.
Berge, who led Norway to victory over Scotland at Hampden last week, stated: “Genk has always had a strong squad, but it was extremely important for those young players to compete in Europe and win a title.”
“Philippe brought forth our best selves. We had international players, though we were still relatively young: Maehle from the Danish national team, Malinovsky from Ukraine,
“That season, Philippe seemed more like a 25- or 30-year-old version of me, even though I was only 20 or 21. It speaks volumes about him. Getting the most out of players who represent so many different nationalities is a skill in today’s world.
“We came from different parts of the world, but he united us.” At Genk, he made a family out of us, and we were all eager to get to work. He raised the bar for even the players who were frustrated at not playing as much.
The biggest achievement of 2019 was his ability to raise the training bar so high that games felt easier than usual for us. That is as a result of the extreme pressure he placed on us.
He observed a young group of exceptionally skilled but somewhat inexperienced players. He brought with him a winning mentality and experience in the game.
That was the crucial element. The team had the talent, but they lacked experience.
“Philippe simply understood our needs.” He knew we had the power to move forward, so he worked on being solid. Our team grew closer together. He simply brings in what he sees to be necessary.
Berge is a vital midfield player for Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor this season because of his excellent ball handling skills. However, he is also a grafter, and Clement, who was well-known for his work ethic and perseverance as a player, fostered that mindset in him.
The Burnley player still remembers the influence the new Rangers manager had on him in his early years. “He was massive for me,” Berge stated. He knows the game because he has also been a top player.
While he transitioned to coaching, he carried a lot of that experience with him. Philippe manages people very well. He’s a great guy who can identify and enhance a team’s strengths.
“He creates teams devoid of any vulnerabilities. He was instrumental in helping us win the league at Genk while he was in charge. And he had a significant influence on my career. He has a great rapport with players, which is why I believe he will be a huge asset to the Rangers.
He taught me a lot about the game because he held the same position that I do now. He also made a lot of demands of me; we had a lot of talks that I had while I was working at Genk.
Working with him and his coaching staff was a pleasure. That year, the team as a whole and I both improved greatly.
“Philippe saw the game from my point of view, and he taught me a lot of valuable habits. He was constantly seeking more. We ultimately won a title because of his constant pushing and development of that mindset.
Rangers will become the nation’s fittest team, as Clement has already made clear. And his Ibrox players, who haven’t lost since he moved to Glasgow, are starting to show signs of his unwavering, round-the-clock approach to the game.
Berge stated: “I could tell Philippe truly loved football when he took over as coach at Genk. He was constantly seeking ways to get better. It was evident that he was considering it constantly while he sat there.
He did a good job of involving the players in his thoughts and perspective on the game. He got along well with us, which is very important in today’s football.
“He is really well-fit. To play for his high-pressing team, you have to be in top form all the time.
He is a superb coach who firmly believes in perseverance and hard work. I’m sure that will greatly inspire the Rangers players.
