Philippe Clement thinks Rangers put in ‘one of our better performances’ of the season against Aberdeen despite a damaging defeat.
The Dons were deserved winners on the night as Rangers slipped up once again to fall a mammoth nine points behind both Celtic and Aberdeen in the title race.
The Ibrox giants played well for a period in the second-half but outwith that spell, it was another limp showing, particularly in the first-half.
But speaking to Sky Sports after the defeat, Clement defended what he saw, which is likely not going to appeal to the Rangers fans listening.
Clement reacts to Aberdeen defeat
Clement told reporter Luke Shanley after the game: “The performance was better. I think this was one of our better performances until now this season with the new squad.
“All credit to Aberdeen also, the way they played now at home and Celtic Park also. Where they are now, they deserve to be.
“We are working hard to make things better on our side. I think this was one of the better performances of several players and we need to build on that.
“But of course, we didn’t take the points and it’s about reacting fast for Sunday’s semi-final.
Clement strongly defends Rangers desire to win
Asked if the team should have improved already by now, Clement replied: “In points, yes. But if the toenail (McCausland’s offside goal) was not there, it was 2-2 today or we lead that moment.
“So that also decides the perception after of the game about that. It’s not that Aberdeen blew us away today, it’s not the reality.
“They (the fans) want to win and we want to win also and we have to make up these nine points, for sure. But it’s about game after game, getting results and making a momentum again.”
Asked if Aberdeen wanted the win more, he retorted: “Did you feel the second-half which team wanted it more to score goals, which team was defending?
“We were attacking, we wanted it, we were in the box of Aberdeen most times in the second-half so we wanted it. But Aberdeen wanted it also and they took it. We threatened enough but we were not clinical enough.”
