You can’t lose when Filip is in the team
Donadoni knew Gers ace was winner
Roberto Donadoni played in front of one of the most famous back fours of all time in Arrigo Sacchi ’ s all - conquering AC Milan side.
So the Ital ian legend knows a defender when he sees one – and it didn’t take him long working with Filip Helander to recognise his quality.
Donadoni signed the Swedish stopper for Bologna after being tipped off by his general manager Riccardo Bigon who was impressed by Helander when he worked with him at Verona.
The Italian admitted it proved to be sound advice, after being hugely impressed by Helander during his two seasons at the Renato Dal l ’Ara Stadium.
Helander fell out of favour following the former Milan winger’s departure as boss, struggling for game-time in the second half of season 2018/19 after Sinisa Mihajlovic replaced Donadoni’s successor Filippo Inzaghi.
That opened the door for a move to Rangers after four years in Serie A, with Steven Gerrard landing the defender for £ 3.5million in summer 2019.
Helander showed his potential before a foot injury ended his season, even before the early finish due to Covid-19.
The stopper has been rotated this term after the arrival of Nigerian international Leon Balogun, who has impressed in his debut season in Scotland.
But the Swede has still madee 20 appearances and produced performances that are a reminder of what he has to offer since he returned to the starting XI in thee last two games.
The 27-year-old, looking to bookk his spot in his country’s Euro 20200 squad, netted his second goal of thee season in the 5- 0 romp over Rosss County before helping keep anotherer clean sheet in the midweek win overer Hibs at Easter Road.
That maintained the remarkable le statistic of Gers having never lostt a league game when he has featured. d.
It also kept the team, who haveve shipped just seven so far, on coursese to beat the all-time record of 12 goalsals conceded in a top-flight season.
Gerrard spoke of the Ital ianan influence in Helander’s game.
Donadoni is proud of the part he played in the former Malmo ace’se’s development and delighted to see him making a big impression at the Light Blues as they close in on a coveted 55th league title.
The former Azzurri boss won six Serie A titles and three European Cups during a glittering playing career with AC Milan, whose success was built on a legendary rearguard featuring the likes of Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, Franco Baresi and Mauro Tassotti.
It taught Donadoni the importance of a rock- solid defence and he loved Helander’s no-nonsense approach.
Speaking exclusively to MailSport, the former San Siro star 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
andhewinstheleaguethisseasonandhewinstheleaguethisseason. To concede only seven goals in the league is very impressive for Rangers. Every win starts from the defence.
“When I played for AC Milan 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 them.
“It’s interesting to hear Steven Gerrard say that it’s clear from Filip’s style that he has been influenced by Italian coaching.
“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. I certainly enjoyed working
with him for those two seaseasons and they were probably his most fruitful as he didn’t play so much in his last season before he moved to Glasgow.
“That could be down to many reasons. When a new manager comes in he will have his own ideas on players. Maybe Filippo Inzaghi and Sinisa Mihajlovic preferred other central defenders to Filip. That’s just football. But for me Filip is a very good player.
“The reason I signed him for Bologna was because our general manager Riccardo Bigon was at Verona when Filip was playing and said, ‘Believe me, this guy is good.’
“He said maybe he wasn’t at the very top level in Italy but that he would be a great squad addition and maybe a back-up.
“But he soon established himself in my first team. I’m glad
I l istened to Riccardo because everything he said was right.
“In the first season Filip needed time to understand my ideas and philosophy but he played a lot in the second. “First and foremost he’s a very good guy and also a very good professional. “I mean this with the utmost respect when I say his technical quality might not be of the very highest level 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 to dribble out of defence. He’s a smart guy a n d knows
He’s all from you a t He’s defen wan a play very der. er toug thin and h gs keep s simp le
what his qualities are and 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.
“When he moved to Scotland I said to Luca Gotti, my former assistant, that his style would be perfect for Rangers.”
Donadoni won 63 caps in a 10-year international career.
He was part of the Italy team held to a goalless draw at Ibrox in a 1994 World Cup qualifier, a tournament he would eventually pick up a runnersup medal in after losing on penalties to Brazil in the final in the USA. He also managed Italy for two years, during which he inflicted heartache on Scotland with a Hampden win to deny Alex McLeish’s side a place at Euro 2008. Donadoni said: “I loved my experiences with Scottish football as a player and a manager.
“You always knew you were in for a tough, physical game but I liked the mentality and the pa s s ion of the supporters is amazing.”