Rangers manager Philippe Clement has sent a rallying cry to Gers fans ahead of the Hampden visit of Dynamo Kiev.
Rangers are preparing to welcome the Ukrainian side to Glasgow with the Champions League QR3 tie neatly poised following a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
The current Gers manager knows that his side will need to be at their best to progress but Clement has also appealed to the wider Ibrox support to create a raucous atmosphere in temporary home Hampden.
It comes with some momentum steadily building at Rangers this season, the club now three games in with several new signings beginning to come into the side.
Clement: we’re counting on 50k crazy bears
Philippe Clement was speaking to RangersTV following the 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory over Motherwell at Hampden.
This was the first time that Rangers have played at their temporary home at the national stadium, with the club relocating due to the ongoing Copland Stand works at Ibrox.
Issues with the delivery of essential materials to complete the works have meant Rangers have had to take up residence at Hampden until at least the end of September.
After victory in the club’s first game at the national stadium, Clement has urged the Rangers support to cheer his side onto Champions League glory in the next one.
In fact the Rangers manager says he’s ’counting’ on the fans to get behind the team as the ‘belief’ starts to build in Gov-, sorry, Mount Florida.
“It’s good after a victory also,” said Clement when asked about Tuesday night’s game with Dynamo Kiev. “It’s good for the fans also, it gives extra belief.
“We know that it is a really big test against Kyiv because it’s a really quality team. And we are going to go full to qualify to the next round.
“We did really good things in Lublin against them, but we also need to learn some things that we can make better, so are going to work on that in the next two days and then to have a terrific European evening here with 50,000 crazy people behind the team. I am counting on that.”
Clement calls for ‘efficient’ Rangers and ‘crucial’ support
The Rangers manager has warned his team that they will need to be more efficient if they stand a chance of progression v Dynamo Kiev.
The Gers side missed a hatful of chances against Motherwell but will not get the same luxury in the Champions League clash this week.
Clement also issued a rallying cry to fans ahead of the game and has urged them to scream a ‘little bit harder’ to make up for the increased distance from the pitch.
The distance between the stands and the action is a massive bugbear for supporters and Clement has a solution to make up for the gap.
“A very big one,” Clement told a post-match press conference. “Comprable with (the first leg).
“You need good efficiency. You will not get 90 shots like (v Motherwell) or nine on target so you need to be really efficient in that game.
“It’s a team that showed a lot of quality but the last couple of years also by playing together.
“We need to be at the top of our game and have everybody at their best level.
“And then to have the 50k behind us to push us through the difficult moments.
“It’s always been crucial at Ibrox and now it’s important that we get this at Hampden also.
“Although I know that the fans are a little bit further away from the pitch so I hope that they want to shout a little bit harder then also because it gives so much energy to my team.”
Rangers are set to welcome Dynamo Kiev to Hampden on Tuesday 13th August with the match to kick off at 7:45pm.
