Philippe Clement’s preparations ahead of Rangers’ Europa League clash with FCSB have not exactly been unorthodox.
The pressure on the Rangers manager has been turned up to the maximum following the 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
With the Europa League a welcome distraction in that sense, the preparations have also been confused by Gigi Becali’s pre-match mind games.
Philippe Clement responds to Gigi Becali
The FCSB owner has been releasing details of his team’s lineup and teased Clement about the game this week.
But the Rangers manager has refused to be drawn on the eccentric Romanian’s ploys with the focus fully on his own team.
“First, I get information there were already two teams that were announced,” Clement told the press.
“I hope they only play with one.
“We are focused on ourselves to play our game and then we will see with which name they come.
“But no, it’s about us, it’s all about that.”
Rangers Europa League squad absence explained
Philippe Clement was also asked by the Romanian media about the situation with Ianis Hagi at Ibrox.
The attacking midfielder has been recalled to the Ibrox fold this season after sitting out the first half of the campaign due to a contract dispute.
As a result Ianis Hagi has been left out of the Europa League squad this season with Clement clarifying the situation ahead of the FCSB game.
“We had a situation in the summer,” said Clement. “But that’s been resolved because Ianis made an effort and the club made an effort.
“So it’s a clean sheet in that way but he was not on the European list because at that moment we had to decide things.
“So we will see for the second part of the season. We hope we can make a new European list and we will see to make the right decisions for the club.”
Philippe Clement also refused to be drawn on links to historic links to FCSB star Darius Olaru.
The Romanian playmaker is out of the Europa League clash at Ibrox, but Clement told reports he will ‘never be drawn’ on transfer reports.
