PHILIP CLEMENT: The under-stressed Rangers boss insists the club is ‘200 per cent’ behind him as he prepares for the St Johnstone test. Football news
Rangers manager Philip Clement will be training as the club prepares for the game against St Johnstone on Friday.
Following the Gers’ 1-1 draw at Dundee, many supporters at Den Park have directed their frustration at the Belgian, who believe his Ibrox spell should be over.
However, while Clement has fallen 15 points behind Celtic after a dreadful run of three wins in 11 games, the club’s board – which has a new chief executive in Patrick Stewart – says it is “200 per cent” behind him. .
Clement said when asked about criticism from fans. Sky Sports: “It’s unusual, they’re not happy. I’m also not happy that we didn’t take three points. I know I’m in front of the team, it’s part of my job.
“I’m busy at the club, in the team, for this team to grow. In the last two weeks, with all the changes, we’ve lost some stability and maybe confidence. Some players should have played all the games and we’ll see. Loss of freshness.
“Now on Sunday it’s about responding as a team and taking the three points.”
Sunday’s game against St Johnstone is the first of a three-game home series, followed by Aberdeen on Wednesday – Live on Sky Sports – Fraserburgh are the opponents in the Scottish Cup next weekend.
The Gers visit Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Europa League, before heading to Tannadice Park to take on Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. Live on Sky Sports.
Boyd: A decision must be made on Clement.
The former Ibrox striker spoke on Sky Sports after Rangers’ draw at Dundee. Chris Boyd He said:
“It’s just an excuse after an apology,” said former Rangers striker Boyd. Sky Sports. “Rangers have the team to come here and wipe the floor at Dundee but they are hanging on.
“13 points out of 33 away from home is a shame. You can talk about progress but there’s nothing. They say the players are tired and low on confidence. A week ago or 10 days ago you completely destroyed Celtic – destroyed them.
“And you’re struggling for confidence. Before the Celtic game you’ve lost two, drawn one game and lost one game. There was no confidence going into the Celtic game and now you’ve drawn two games after it and there’s no confidence in them, it just doesn’t make sense.
“I only see the club now but on the pitch it’s a mess. There’s no style of play, no nothing, they’ll cite the Celtic game as Rangers’ best performance this season.
But it can’t be just one time, we know that. It is an absolute disgrace that Rangers are in this position.
“And you can see that you did not spend money, there is money lost. Yes, there was a reduction in spending, but there is money that was spent.
“There’s no improvement. We’ve talked about the injuries and the improvement. I mean, it’s really worse.
“You can talk about moving players around and playing more minutes. Guess what? You’re a football player. That’s what you get paid for, playing minutes.”
“No progress at all, done.
“It’s over now,” said (Rangers chief executive) Patrick Stewart, “because what I’m telling you now is the last two away games.”
“Those fans have had enough and it will get to the point where they stop coming to games and then you will see the real problems start to appear for Rangers, because this cannot continue.”
Sutton: Brendan is cracking open champagne
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton Following the draw at Dens Park on Sky Sports:
“Philip Clement has to take responsibility but the players on the pitch have the knowledge and understanding of how to win games.
“You look at the Rangers squad and think, ‘Does the shirt fit most of the players?’ I have said before that there is a lost mentality at the club and nothing has changed and it is not just about Philippe Clement.
“This has been happening for years and years and years. And you see how poor that performance is tonight. Celtic are laughing at them.
“Brendan Rodgers will be cracking champagne and laughing at them this evening. It’s a shame that we’re at the start of January and Celtic are 15 points clear at the top. That’s shocking and amazing.”
“We were talking before the game and myself and Chris (Boyd) thought that Philippe Clement should have gone a long time ago. But now they are at a kind of crossroads because can this continue? The club is recovering.
“And we’re going to look at that, or is Patrick Stewart going to look at the big picture, not just one game against Celtic, where he’s going to pick up the game or, you know, an unusual game in Europe?
“Clement will come out and talk about Celtic having a big budget but Rangers shouldn’t be dropping 19 points against sides with a much smaller budget than them.
“We hear excuses week in and week out. And it’s not enough. And it’s time he took ownership, but he won’t.
“But this Belgian waffle goes on and on and on. It won’t stop until a decision is made on it.”
2025-01-10 12:00:00
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