Rangers manager Philippe Clement was satisfied with his team’s performance as he spoke to a press conference following the Scottish Cup win over Ayr United.
The Belgian boss was addressing journalists after a 2-0 victory over the Honest Men, with Borna Barisic and Fabio Silva scoring the goals for Rangers.
The result means the Ibrox side will progress to the competition’s Quarter Finals with a shot at further glory up for grabs in the Scottish Cup this season.
Here’s everything Philippe Clement had to say in his post-match press conference as Rangers’ treble hopes continue to build in the support.
Philippe Clement press conference Rangers v Ayr United
Philippe, how did you view that one today?
“That the team did a good job. That we started the game well with good tempo, with good actions. After three minutes we could’ve scored already two goals, but in football you need also a little bit of luck. That was not on our side today in the finishing and all respect also to our opponents who gave their lives to stop the goals, also in second half by making saves on the goal line and things like that. It was a game that we had 90 minutes control. The team went forward to score goals, we didn’t give away almost anything. I think one shot on target, so keeping a clean sheet is also important. And we could give minutes to guys who are just in the building, to players who come out of injury also, to raise their rhythm and to rest a few players also. So it’s a positive evening. Other positive thing is that to play that kind of game in front of so many fans, that’s maybe the most positive thing of the evening. So in that way I would’ve wished to give the fans more goals today, that’s the only thing. If I look for perfection that would’ve been even better but we tried to do that.”
First starts for Oscar Cortes and Mohamed Diomande; what did you make of their performances?
“That Oscar played in a position that is more familiar. Dio played a little bit higher today because of the circumstances also that we are building with Tom Lawrence, his minutes. Todd (Cantwell) had also a knock in the weekend so we wanted to watch out with that also. They showed good things. They showed they are good players, good technical players, and they are just now two weeks here with us and you see already that they have a good connection with the team, they understand what we want to do. Of course it’s not perfect yet and it needs to become more natural but that’s normal after two weeks.”
Coming out of a game like this is there ever any frustration that there weren’t more goals or is it all about getting the win and getting through to the next round?
“Yeah but you can be frustrated because you don’t attack enough or whatever. No, you need a bit of luck in football, so I don’t think that the really big teams in the world with the best players in the world, they don’t win every game with five, six to zero. If we see where we were a few months ago and now, I think we did a good job today. It was not exceptional, then we should’ve scored more goals, but an opponent is there also to stop you and they did it in a really energetic way today.”
In terms of giving players minutes Philippe was there a temptation to play Robby McCrorie today rather than Jack to give him a rest?
“I had some thoughts about that but finally we decided to do this.”
You think there’s a chance Fabio (Silva) could’ve been sent off in the second half?
“No he get a kick on his leg in that action. You need to look good at the images. He showed me also there were studs on his leg, the top of his leg. So I don’t think so. If I had the fear about that I would’ve made the change directly.”
Philippe I know you don’t want to look too far ahead but the fans are dreaming of winning everything this season, can you understand that? Do they have the right to dream?
“Yes they have the right to dream because they’re fans. So they can dream and it’s important to dream also in life. I want one thing; that my players are focused on the next game. Just that, and full focus on that. You can dream in the beginning of the season but as a player, as a manager, as member of staff, you need to be in the story at that moment. But that’s the nice thing to be fan that you do those things so I hope that they dream about a lot. Because I love also the passion they have now, how they are behind the team, how they are helping the team also through difficult moments. So if they dream about those things they are going to help the team even more next couple of months, so I hope they dream a lot.”
Philippe your focus is always game at a time, game at a time, but you have always said you’re a man that’s here to win every competition you’re in. What’s the confidence like in the dressing room, given what the team has been through this season, that they can end up finishing this season as a very famous Rangers team indeed?
“Yes but they’re not busy with that. They’re just busy with one thing, that’s the next game. Or even not that, the next training. To show that they’re ready, and it’s about that. We had really good players today on the bench or not in the squad. They’re not unhappy, they’re not depressed because they didn’t play. No, they know they’re in the story of a team and it’s about just the next training to go full, the next game to go full, and then step-by-step going closer to your goals. That’s the only way towards success. So you can ask me this question a lot of times but I know what the way is to success, that’s the only way. People who start to dream they lose their focus and they lose their way towards their goal.”
Philippe you mentioned it’s a game at a time. Wednesday night is obviously another game and an opportunity to go top of the league, will that be mentioned in the build-up to the match?
“To go top of the league? No. I don’t know why I should mention that.”
It won’t be a focus on we need to win by a certain amount of goals it’s more a case of just get the three points?
“No it’s not only about that game, by a certain amount of goals. We play every game to score a lot of goals. But you need – and that’s important in life and for sure as a manager – you need to control the controlables. So we’re going to play to score a lot of goals, like all the other games. So it’s not like if I say guys today we need to score a lot of goals that they’re going to score two goals more, doesn’t work that way. It’s about doing the right things on the field to score more goals, so to keep your focus.”
Philippe, can I just quickly ask, something you mentioned before and I found it interesting. One of the big takeaways from you today is the fact that where we were when you first came in the door to a game like today where it can be, without being disrespectful, routine but very comfortable in the performance and doing well. Is that a big thing for you to consider where we were and where it is now?
“No for me the future is important, so I am happy that we were comfortable today but I know all the things that it takes to be there and to stay there. It’s easy to go to the top in every sport, it’s difficult to stay there. The real good ones are the ones who stay there all the time because they keep their focus, they keep on doing what they’re doing, they don’t become sloppy, they don’t become lazy, they don’t make mistakes. And that’s the challenge we have the next couple of months, to not be happy with were we are now but to be ambitious to become better and to grow and not to become lazy or sloppy.”
