Philippe Clement says that Rangers will be going on the attack when they travel to Celtic Park next Sunday, with the Ibrox manager dismissing any notion that his team will ‘park the bus’ against their city rivals.
Clement was in bullish mood after watching his side put six goals past a hapless Ross County outfit at Hampden, and the Belgian feels that attack will be their best form of defence when they take on the champions on their home patch without their travelling support behind them.
Clement has yet to taste victory in four matches against Celtic, losing three and drawing one, but he believes that fine margins went against Rangers in many of those games, and that they can come out on the right side of the result this time around by taking the game to Brendan Rodgers’ men.
“We're going to work hard this week with everybody to be ready for that game,” Clement said.
“To go hard to take the three points like we do against every opponent.
“I hope also to get a few signings in this week. So maybe they have one training or two trainings or no training before that game. So maybe I can even not use them in that way.
“And I'm focused also on the rest of the season. Not only this one game that comes. But we're going to prepare us in the ultimate best way to be competitive in that game. And to go full for the three points.
“Not to sit and to park the bus in front of goal and to hope that something falls out of the sky. No, we're going to go flat out.”
When asked what gives him confidence that his team can win at Celtic Park, despite their recent record there, Clement said: "Because we were really close last season.
“We were really close at Ibrox [in the 3-3 draw in April]. We were really close in the Cup Final.
“The difference in the Cup Final was one action that they were efficient and we were not. We had the same chances, we had the same possession also.
“So, okay, I know it will be a new game for a few guys. And I'm curious now how they're going to react the first time to play an Old Firm. But I'm also really positive about that way.
“If you speak about the Jeftes and the Connor Barrons, although Connor played there, but it's a different kind of game with Aberdeen. Because those are also two guys who the last couple of weeks they had a few exams for the first time. And they take it every time really good.
“So, I expect them to do it there also. And the other guys will have more experience in that kind of games."
Clement saw huge improvement in his team during a rampant second half display in particular against County, and he feels that they are slowly getting towards the level he wants them to be operating at.
“The team is on the right track,” he said.
“We're only at the end of August now, so there's still a long way to go. Like I said, I expect the best Rangers to be seen in October, November.
“I know people maybe didn't like that moment that I said that, but it's a logical thing. We're rebuilding a new squad with a lot of new players.
“They're taking the right lessons, and the players who were here are also hungry to become better and to learn all the details. So in that way, it's a very positive afternoon.
“The best examples for me are Cyriel (Dessers) and Rabbi (Matondo), because they were here last season, but they're making the right steps because they understand all the details more, what we were working on last week, last month, to make them more decisive in the last part of the field.
“So, that's what I want to see more of all season.”
