Philippe Clement insists the Rangers team have lost all the credit they’d built back up with supporters in the shock Scottish Cup defeat to Queen’s Park.
The Rangers manager also insists he is ‘confident’ the painful Scottish Cup exit will not result in him losing his job at Ibrox.
The pressure is mounting on Philippe Clement after Rangers crashed out of the Scottish Cup to Queen’s Park following a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox.
Rangers spurned a host of chances with captain James Tavernier missing a last minute penalty to set Celtic up for a sixth domestic treble in nine years.
‘Rangers lacked tempo v Queen’s Park’
Philippe Clement claims that his Rangers team lacked tempo and quality when it came to striking a fatal blow on Queen’s Park at Ibrox.
The Rangers manager also singled out Queen’s Park goalkeeper Calum Ferrie for putting an inspired display for the Spiders in Glasgow.
”Super frustrating,” Clement told Premier Sports. “First half too low tempo. We had the chances to come in front. You dominate all the game also.
”Second half we raise our tempo. We have today the most chances we have this season with 30 chances. Even a penalty not scoring.
”And you get one shot on target and you receive the goal so it’s a hold up but we should’ve scored more goals.
”And at the end it’s about that and you’re out of the cup so a super frustrating evening.
”First half not enough tempo. Still the chances and no composure enough in those chances and in the last pass.
”In the second half too much rush. Also the chances because 30 chances in a game, that’s a lot, or 30 shots towards goal, it’s a lot, or 12 on target, it’s a lot.
”But not enough quality to score the goals and also the goalkeeper on the other end who played a marvellous game.“
’Rangers team has lost all credit with fans’
Clement was also asked about the Rangers dressing room in the wake of the shock defeat and claims that the result is ‘unacceptable’.
The Belgian suggested his team lacked composure and struggled with the weight of pressure as the match wore on.
The manager admitted that the team, who will now play a succession of must-win glorified friendlies between now and the end of the domestic season, have lost any credit they’d built up with Rangers fans.
”They’re all down and should be,” Clement said. “It’s unacceptable to lose this. They all know that.
”They built credit back the last weeks, the last months with the fans, today they lost everything of that credit.
”This is not acceptable to lose against Queen’s Park in the cup.
”That was probably the rush there was in the second half but you need composure in these moments and you need overview.
”We came so many times in and around the box. We had so many times the possibility with the shot or the shot and we were not calm enough and that hurts us.
”Because of that we’re out of the cup.”
Philippe Clement on his Rangers future
Philippe Clement was asked about his own position as Rangers manager with many fans leading calls for the Belgian to go.
Rangers are now staring at a trophy-less season which barring a miracle in the Europa League will see the club’s frustrated supporters end the campaign empty handed.
The Gers support have been plying millions in the club season-on-season but Clement insists that submitting to one’s emotions will only see the club make yet more mistakes.
The Rangers manager suggested that the team did enough to win the game and that, by and large, the result is not solely his responsibility.
”It happened several times in the past, we know it’s a rebuild,” said Clement.
”I’m focused on this game, on the next game, I don’t think you can ask much more than to get 30 chances.
“Nothing to do with tactics or whatever it’s about the quality of the moment and that we missed today.
”Yes I am confident about (my position). Everybody knows how hard everybody is working together.
”Last week everybody was saying that the team is taking good steps and growing and great, eighth position in the Europa League.
“It’s not because you lose a game that you normally have to win 99 out of 100 that things change about the way things are working.
”If you do that then you are only living in emotions and then there will never be stability in this club.”
