PHILIPPE Clement continued to work hard on the training pitch at Auchenhowie with those Rangers players who were not involved with their countries during the international window.
The industrious Belgian also helped Ibrox recruitment staff to finalise their plans for the January transfer window.
But he took advantage of the break in the domestic fixture list and enjoyed a few days away with his wife in Scotland too. “I have some good points with her now,” he said with a smile yesterday.
Clement, though, is only interested in Rangers picking up more points on the park and building on the impressive progress which has been made since he was appointed manager now.
The start of his tenure could not have gone much better – his team went undefeated in all seven of their games, improved their cinch Premiership position, reached the Viaplay Cup final and moved into contention for a place in the Europa League knockout rounds.
However, Clement, whose men return to action following the international break with a difficult league match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie tomorrow, has told his charges there can be no let up. In fact, he expects them to improve further during the hectic run of fixtures they have coming up.
The period between now and the winter break is vital. Rangers have the chance to lift silverware, go through in a continental competition and edge even closer to their city rivals in the Premiership. Their manager will not tolerate any dip in form.
“I’ve been satisfied about the level of training, of focus, dedication,” he said. “That needs to continue. I know the first weeks with a new manager is always a honeymoon. Everything is new and everyone is expecting a chance. We need to see the players stay sharp.
“We have to step up if we want to keep the same results. It’s also what I want. I don’t want players satisfied with thinking that’s their end level. With this group, with a lot of work and concentration, they can still grow a lot as a team and individuals.
“That’s what they need to show in these next five weeks. It’s going to be game by game. I hope we can win 12 games, that’s my goal. I hope we can win the next 40 games. I want to win every time. But up until now I have been very disappointed that hasn’t happened in my career! There will be bumps.”
Clement added: “It’s been a really interesting first four weeks. I gave several challenges to the team and every time they reacted really well. There were some challenges along the way. For example, our game against Hearts where we came back in the last five minutes. We reacted on a mental and physical way, to score those two goals at the end, pushing all the time.
“There will be more games like that in the next couple of weeks where we need to be strong in the head and the legs. Creating this connection, timing the right runs with and without the ball that everyone understands.
“We’re focused with the staff, the players, everyone to create new connections with new players. If you do it with the same players it’s easier. In this period we need to change so everyone needs to be ready to play with each other.
“We just need to focus on the Aberdeen and the players are only busy with that. But I speak about the 12 games because I want everyone to understand it’s going to be necessary to be ready. It’s not going to be with 11 or 14 players that we reach those goals.”
Clement has felt like a doctor rather than a coach at times since arriving in Scotland last month because the Glasgow club’s injury problems has been so extensive. But he delivered far better news for their supporters on that front as he spoke to the media yesterday. Nicolas Raskin and Kemar Roofe are the only players who are sidelined while Ryan Jack is a doubt.
“We’ll need a fit squad as we go into the next series of games,” he said. “We need a large number of players to make good rotation so every second they can go at the maximum. That’s the football we want to see with the high tempo.”
He is interested in seeing what Rabbi Matondo, who he knows well from the Welsh winger’s time in his homeland on loan with Cercle Bruges, can contribute to his team. The £2.5m man has been sidelined since he joined Rangers.
“He’s an electric player, he can eliminate fast one v one with his dribbles with his actions and with his speed,” he said. “He can also play central and his best period in Belgium was as a second striker where he had a lot of freedom. But he comes out of an injury so we can’t expect him to get his highest level from the first minute he plays so it’ll be building with him.”
The match tomorrow will be Clement’s first experience of a Rangers match against their fierce rivals Aberdeen. He is well aware it is a fixture with a history. But he feels that previous encounters, even the 3-1 defeat his team suffered at home at the hands of their opponents at the end of September, will have no bearing whatsoever on proceedings. “I cannot look back to how the last month’s or last year’s games were,” he said. “I don’t believe in those things. I also cannot believe players are more motivated for one game more than another game.
“For sure, not when I am a manager because the story would be short for these players if they’re not motivated for every game. We need to focus on ourselves. The rest is irrelevant. I expect other teams to be the same.”
