Philippe Clement has sent a message to Rangers supporters as pressure mounts on the manager’s future following defeat to Kilmarnock.
Rangers are already six points adrift of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic and Aberdeen following the 1-0 loss at Rugby Park.
The Ibrox side blew the chance to cut the gap from five to three over the weekend after the current top two drew 2-2 at Celtic Park.
With Rangers fans losing belief in this team’s ability to finish second, let alone win a title, Gers supporters have begun to turn on Clement after defeat to Killie.
Speaking after the game, the Rangers manager faced the music.
The Ibrox gaffer has also told fans how he will turn it around as he urges patience in his new-look team.
Philippe Clement pleads for Rangers fan patience
“(By looking at) what you’ve seen the last few weeks also,” Clement told a post-match press conference when asked how he can reassure supporters of the direction the team is going under his leadership.
“And there are a lot of players new here, first time playing at Kilmarnock. The longer they play here, the more they’re used to the circumstances.
“We get a goal against where, and it’s not pointing at a player, where the right full-back steps out not together with the rest to put the team offside.
“It’s those details that we paid cash okay and in other moments we didn’t pay them cash.
“The longer this team plays together, the better they will become and the more they will learn out of the mistakes made and the good moments also.
“The good things that they did together, what they did already the last couple of weeks.
“It’s about working hard; working hard, staying together, digging in and getting results.
“That’s the only way to get fans behind you, not the other way around.”
‘Rangers fan anger not just aimed at me’
Philippe Clement was also asked about the simmering anger amongst Rangers fans, who voiced their concerns with the team come full-time against Kilmarnock.
It’s not just results which have Rangers fans furious, with Philippe Clement’s ‘long-ball’ tactics subject to criticism and a patent lack of application or hunger in the squad also irking fans.
With Rangers supporters growing increasingly angry by the game, Clement was asked about fan frustrations and insists that it will take time to get things right in Glasgow.
“I think the angriness has to do with a lot of things,” said Clement. “So I will be focused on the sportive side.
“To get the best out this squad, what this squad is now. We spoke about that.
“To do that in one transfer window was impossible with the finances this moment.
“We’re going to work really hard with this squad and there is a lot of potential in this squad, and there is a lot more potential than people see maybe for the moment.
“So a few weeks ago people spoke also negative about Jefte after the pre-season, and after he gets the praise also.
“It’s about working hard with them and making them better and for sure, getting to know each other on the field in all the different circumstances.
“It’s a different kind of game to play Kilmarnock today than to play the international games the last couple of weeks.”
