Wolves sent 22-year-old defender Nasser Djiga on loan to Rangers earlier this summer, and an incident in their Champions League qualifier against Club Brugge has provoked a strong reaction from the fans.
Nasser Djiga joined Wolves in the January window last season, and after just 151 minutes on the pitch, a decision was made to send the young defender out on loan.
Wolves believe in Djiga’s ability, but recognise the need for development before he is Premier League-ready.
Djiga started well at Rangers, impressing fans in their summer fixtures, but Tuesday night’s Champions League qualifier has perhaps highlighted some deficiencies in the Burkina Faso defender’s game.
Rangers fans not happy with Nasser Djiga’s mistake against Club Brugge
In just the third minute of action, Club Brugge sent a long ball into Rangers’ half, and rather than dealing with the danger, Djiga left it to the keeper, not seeing the Brugge forward sprinting through behind him.
The ball was dispatched in the net seconds later, leading to a strong reaction from fans.
One fan thinks Djiga’s lapse in judgment has cost them the tie, saying: “The lunacy from Djiga for their first goal completely knocked the stuffing out of us and threw the game plan out the window. Tie is over. Would expect Brugge to score 3 or 4 next week.”
Another points out that it’s not his first poor showing: “We were ok in the second half. I still have no idea how Djiga lasted that full game. Awful vs Alloa, sent off vs Dundee and easily his worst performance tonight.”
This opinion is echoed again: “Djiga has been a calamity the last two games.”
Such a mistake is disappointing from a promising young player, and one fan puts it perfectly: “Tbh I thought Djiga was going to be the man for us.”
One fan says it plainly: ‘Shocking’.
Football moves quickly, and a player who Rangers fans were raving about just a couple of games prior now appears to be public enemy number one.
Nasser Djiga needs to shake off this poor performance
It’s always difficult as a young player in the centre of the defence.
An exciting winger can have a few failed dribbles on a given night. An attacking midfield prospect can misplace a pass or two. But when you’re at the very back, mistakes cost the team dearly, and the ire of the fans comes down like a hammer.
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Djiga shouldn’t let a couple of poor showings derail an otherwise flying start to life in Glasgow. Mistakes are a part of development, and these are exactly the kind of shortfalls Vitor Pereira wants ironed out.
Wolves play three centre-backs in the current system, meaning there is a route to minutes for Djiga when he returns to Molineux. It’s early days yet, and there’s plenty of time for the 22-year-old to win Rangers fans back.