Philippe Clement insists he will not tender his resignation at Rangers after the shock Scottish Cup defeat to Queen’s Park.
Many Rangers supporters are calling for Clement’s head after the 1-0 defeat at Ibrox, the first time Rangers have ever been knocked out of the cup at home by lower league opposition.
It’s also the first time since the infamous 1-0 defeat away to Berwick Rangers in 1967 since the club has been knocked out of the Scottish Cup by a club outside of the top tier.
The result has effectively ended Rangers’ domestic season in February, with Clement’s team offering meek resistance to a sixth Celtic treble in nine seasons.
Despite the anger surrounding the result, Philippe Clement claims he will not walk away and insists the club needs stability after going through four managers in four years.
Philippe Clement ‘won’t resign in heat of emotion’
“No, totally not,” said Clement when asked if he would resign following defeat to Queen’s Park.
“We know, again, we had these talks the last couple of months about building up something new.
“A few weeks ago or the last weeks, everybody says yes, everybody sees the evolution this club is making.
“So again, out of the emotion, taking decisions and turning everything around, I don’t think this is what this club needs.
“I understand that the fans are in emotions now. I know a lot of fans were on my side three hours ago. I know, I know that.
“So now are the emotions of this game and I totally understand that because I’m also angry and frustrated about that, about this result and going out of the Cup because it was one of our big goals and our shortest chance to go to win a trophy this season. We all know that.
“That’s probably also one of the reasons that the team was nervous in the second half because they wanted that so much because they know how important it is for the club.”
Philippe Clement tells Rangers fans how he can turn it around
The Rangers manager was also asked how he plans on turning things around at Rangers and winning back the fans.
Philippe Clement has yo-yo’d between some fans this season with several making their mind up on the Belgian months ago.
Others have been apprehensive to demand change but there is now swelling pressure on the Rangers board with the Gers winning only three out of 42 trophies since 2011.
For Philippe Clement, it’s simple.
The only way for Rangers to win back the supporters is to start winning games but the comments come too late to salvage the domestic season.
Rangers are effectively set to play 13 glorified friendlies – albeit must-win glorified friendlies – between now and the end of the Scottish Premiership season.
“With getting results again,” Clement responded when asked how he turns a corner with the fans. “With getting results again. It’s like that. And that’s the way back.
“And I know what we are doing with the club, with the budget that we had before the season, with the budget that we had in the winter transfer market also and in the evolution that players are making.
“And all you guys said it also the last couple of weeks, the evolution of this player, this player, this player, this player, this player, this player.
“So today not, no. In the result, in our composure, in scoring the chances that we created, that not.
“But it doesn’t change with changing a manager and suddenly we would have won this game. It’s not a change.
“Because I know a lot of fans had this idea three hours ago. And we’re going to continue working on that, working on the composure, working on finishing off the chances, which we did much better the last couple of weeks.
“We had several games where we scored a lot of goals. Again today we created enough to win three games. We didn’t concede many chances. We get one shot on target and it’s a goal. It’s a hold-up today.
”It’s a f——— frustrating one. Sorry to use that word. But it’s my feeling for the moment. So I’m as frustrated as everybody else.”
