Tonight’s game at Pittodrie is a high-pressure one, there is no doubt.
Rangers know they can’t lose the game and fall nine points behind Aberdeen but a draw really wouldn’t be great either. They must win and move to within three.
It won’t be easy against a Dons side who have not lost competitively this season and have won eight out of nine Premiership games, the only draw a battling comeback at Celtic Park.
Recent performances haven’t been ideal and everyone associated with the club could do with a rousing result.
Clement holds meeting with Rangers defence
In all fairness, the team have bounced back from the defeat to Kilmarnock with wins over FCSB and St Mirren.
The former was more convincing than the latter though and there were some hairy moments where it looked like the away side could take all three points, not least a goal that was disallowed.
Their towering striker Toyosi Olusanya caused the backline all sorts of problems with his physicality and that could be a concern heading up to the north-east.
One Rangers defender in particular has drawn criticism with some calls for him to be dropped.
That’s why Philippe Clement spoke to the back four as a collective about how they can cope with situations better.
He told his pre-match press conference: “Yes, we talked about that. We showed images about that because it were the similar actions that they could do that that we don’t want to see.
“And it’s also one of the strengths of Aberdeen. So we had a separate meeting with the defence about that.
“It’s not a concern, it’s taking attention towards that. Because I don’t think that other teams in the league play games without conceding chances also. But we need to be better in that.
“We need to put standards higher. To have it less than we have in this game. About that one kind of chance that we have, yes.”
Rangers win over Aberdeen would help perception
A result at Pittodrie tonight is obviously huge in terms of points and the league table.
But delivering a statement victory can do so much more in terms of the feeling among fans and around the club, and trust of this squad.
Clement is well aware of the invigorating effect it could have.
He added: “It would help from the outside maybe with the perception around the team and the evolution that the team is making.
“In that way, it can help a lot.
“That’s normal with people who don’t see everything that’s going on in the building.
“How people are training, how they are reacting, how they are playing.
“They’re not busy with that process.
“They only look at the results or one moment, and even then it can be one moment really good and ‘Oh, this is a really good player.’
“And next week he doesn’t score and it’s a really bad player.
“I think Vaclav Cerny is a really good example in that way.
“Two, three weeks ago he was for some people a really bad player. And then he scored five goals in four games.
“So, it’s important as a player, as a manager, as a club not to leave those emotions. Because if you do that, you will never create stability.”
