Rangers have conceded just seven goals in the Premiership this season
The likes of Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and James Tavernier may earn their share of the limelight thanks to the goals they’ve contributed, but the huge lead amassed by Rangers wouldn’t have been possible without a solid central defence.
Steven Gerrard’s side are currently 23 points clear in the Scottish Premiership, with an impressive defensive record of just seven goals conceded in 26 matches.
While not a guaranteed starter every week, Filip Helander has proved himself more than capable when called upon and has now received recognition from an Italian legend.
Roberto Donadoni won three European Cups and six Serie A titles during his time at Milan, playing alongside such defensive greats as Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini.
It was Donadoni who signed Helander for Bologna in August 2016, and he’s not surprised to see the Swedish centre-back earning praise for his performances in Scotland.
Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Donadoni said: “It’s unbelievable to think Filip hasn’t lost a league game at Rangers. That’s very good for him and the team and I hope that run continues and he wins the league this season.
“To concede only seven goals in the league is very impressive for Rangers. Every win starts from the defence. But while the defenders are important, it starts from the front with the strikers.
“But when I played for AC Milan then there were few better than Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti and it was so easy as a midfielder to play in front of those four.
“It’s interesting to hear Steven Gerrard say that it’s clear from Filip’s style that he has been influenced by Italian coaching but I can’t claim all the credit for that as he had a season at Verona before I worked with him and a season at Bologna after I left.
“He learned many things about tactical awareness and it’s very easy for a coach when you have a player like him because he’s smart and has great application.
“But certainly I enjoyed working with him for those two seasons and they were probably his most fruitful as he didn’t play so much in his last season at Bologna before he moved to Glasgow.
“In the first season Filip needed time to understand my ideas and philosophy but he played a lot in the second team.
“First and foremost he’s a very good guy and also a very good professional. And I mean this with the utmost respect when I say his technical quality might not be of the very highest level and by that I mean in terms of building from the back.
“Filip’s left foot is very good, his right not so good. He doesn’t want to lose the ball and won’t try and dribble out of the defensive zone but he’s a smart guy and knows what his qualities are and he maximises them.
“He is always fully concentrated and it helps him when his defensive partner is a ball-playing centre back because it allows him to stick to the basics.
“He is a very tough player and keeps things very simple which is often all you want from a defender and when he moved to Scotland I said to Luca Gotti who was my assistant at Bologna that his style would be perfect for Rangers.”
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