The Romanian endured a rocky summer, but is now back in the fold under Philippe Clement.
Angry? Yes. Deflated and disappointed? Probably.
Ianis Hagi experienced a wide range of emotions during his time in the Ibrox woods. However, he never felt beaten.
Never be dejected or depressed. Always hopeful that one day he’d put on a Rangers shirt again. Given everything the Romanian midfielder had to go through, this is a significant accomplishment. As if being out for a year due to injury wasn’t horrible enough. When Hagi returned, Gers manager Philippe Clement gave him the cold shoulder.
A stipulation in his contract that would have resulted in a wage increase for one more appearance, combined with the budgetary cuts imposed on the manager, meant Hagi was shut out. At that moment, the 26-year-old might easily have devised an escape plan. During the summer transfer window, he might have easily secured his escape.
Instead, Hagi chose to buckle down and play for the Rangers‘ B squad in front of two men and a dog at Auchenhowie. Hagi can have shortcomings as a player. What about mental strength, though? You might have difficulty finding a player who is more resilient.
His goal has always been to return to playing for Gers, and once a contract settlement was reached, he is gradually emerging as a crucial player for manager Clement. He was brilliant in Sunday’s triumph over St Johnstone and will play again tonight when Killie visit Govan.
As he pondered on the psychological obstacles he endured, Hagi said, “Will anything in sport or life test me more after this? You never say never. But I believe I’ve reached a point where my mental strength has increased significantly. I understand football, both on and off the pitch.
“But I believe the most significant thing over the previous few seasons has been understanding myself. Understanding who I am as a person and a player, what I need to do to succeed, and how to play at my best.
“And I believe that right now, I am capable of dealing with any difficulty that may arise. I would not say I was down. Angry, probably on some days.
“That meant training myself, performing extra work, and preparing my body to be in peak shape. Being associated with the national squad also helped me since I knew I had to perform and would earn minutes for Romania. So, mentally, I can’t say I was particularly down. I was truly in a good position.
Two crucial figures in Hagi’s mental health were his famous father, former Barcelona and Real Madrid legend Gheorghe, and Ibrox captain James Tavernier. Ianis claimed that both of them were crucial in keeping his spirits up and keeping him focused on getting back into the Rangers’ lineup.
Hagi stated, “Clearly, my father was essential. He didn’t face many circumstances like these during his career. But, with so much football expertise, he undoubtedly helped me. Not just him, but also my family. Also, a big shoutout to Tav, the skip.
“People are familiar with him on the pitch and what he has done for Rangers in recent years. His stats are outrageous for a full-back. But he has been quite helpful to me, both behind the scenes and on behalf of this football club.
“I’d like to thank him for being there and serving as captain. I will never forget what he did for me over the summer, assisting me in instances when it is not a player-to-player relationship, but rather a man-to-man friendship. He’s been there for me, and others should know that. He’s an excellent skipper.
“We’ve been through a lot of battles together, playing under Steven Gerrard and then with Gio van Bronckhorst before I was hurt.
“We’ve played a lot of games together and faced a variety of scenarios throughout the season. People see what Tav does on the pitch, but he does so much more off the field.”
All of it is in the past, and Hagi is focused on how he can aid Rangers in the present. He’s been welcomed back into the fold and has given Clement‘s team the inventiveness and intensity they’ve lacked this season.
The playmaker understands that he might have departed during the last window. But now he’s intimated that he’d like to stay here next season as well.
Hagi stated: “Listen, I want to win. That’s my thing in life and everything I do. I never take anything for granted, and I never do things halfheartedly.
“I just want to win, and this team wants to win, so I believe that (staying) goes without saying. It’s a good sensation to put the shirt on again. I’ve enjoyed every second of it.
“Was there a moment when I thought it would never happen? Not precisely, but I’ve been following professional football for a long. I understand that everything changes swiftly, from good to bad or bad to good.
“It came to a point where we (Hagi and Clement) wanted to win. And that is why I am back here.
“I know what I can contribute to the table. I want to play football to the best of my ability while still being innovative. I am glad to be back in the mix. Why would I want to stay here? I love the club, plain and simple.”
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