Philippe Clement insists he’s no quitter and explains that he won’t be walking away from Rangers following the restructuring of the Ibrox executive team.
The Rangers manager made headlines when he suggested he’d felt isolated in recent months as he faced the press and Rangers restructured their executive team.
Philippe Clement was asked about ‘feeling alone in the desert’ ahead of the Scottish Premiership visit of Aberdeen and pointed to the lack of clarity in decision-making which was holding the club back.
The Rangers boss then had some choice words for one journalist who suggested the under-pressure gaffer might leave Ibrox of his own volition.
Philippe Clement on making ‘right decisions’ at Rangers
”It’s just something you go through,” said Clement, when asked about the comments.
”There were people helping that way but there was no possibility to make really decisive decisions in the club.
”So that stops things, that stops an evolution also in different ways.
”So you try to push that and you speak but finally you have to wait longer for things and now you feel there’s a new wave of energy in that way.
“And also that decisions can be made, so it’s crucial to make the right decisions.”
With Rangers fans protesting during the club’s Scottish Premiership victory over St Johnstone, Philippe Clement was asked about the support he’s receiving from within Ibrox.
The Rangers manager told reporters that he had ‘200%’ backing from the Rangers board following the 1-1 draw with Dundee at Dens Park.
With more clarity over the direction of traffic at Rangers, Clement insists he has the backing of everyone inside Ibrox and that he doesn’t need a ‘hug’ when there’s work to be done.
”I feel a lot of sympathy in this building with a lot of people who know what I’ve been doing everyday, day and night, for this club,” said Clement.
”That’s the only important thing.
“So I don’t need people to give me a hug or to surround me. I’m past this period.
”I know what this job is. I know which way I want to go with this club. I want everybody to be aligned around that.
”And then we need to work hard.
”Is it the easiest way? No. It’s not the easiest way.
”But that makes it also more challenging.”
Rangers manager insists he’s going nowhere
Such is the challenge of transforming Rangers’ fortunes, Philippe Clement was also asked if getting the Gers back on top would be his greatest ever achievement.
The Belgian manager insists that it’s not about him and that he takes bigger satisfaction from helping others reach their potential.
”I don’t know, maybe becoming a professional football player was maybe the biggest achievement at the end,” said Clement.
”So I’m not really busy with that because again, it’s not about me. It’s about this club and the people and I get the satisfaction about that.
”Not how many trophies I won, or how many selections for national team or whatever, I never had satisfaction from that.
”I always had satisfaction out of doing things with people together and then get something special.
”When I was young I had the choice to make one moment between tennis and football because I did both well at a good level.
“And I chose for football because it was something together and not for tennis because it’s something alone, so that’s what it’s about for me.“
Finally, Philippe Clement offered a brilliant response when pressed on what it would take for him to walk away from Rangers.
In the Belgian’s typical style, Clement suggested that not even wild horses could drag him away from the task at hand at Ibrox.
”No, never, I’m not a quitter,” said Clement. “I’m somebody who really knows what he wants and we’re going to get that together.“
