The Light Blues boss has got off to a flying start since replacing Michael Beale and is unbeaten in his first five outings ahead of welcoming Sparta Prague to Govan for the Europa League return battle.
Philippe Clement is out to create a machine at Rangers as he targets big Europa League win over Sparta Prague under the lights at Ibrox
Philippe Clement wants to build a ‘machine’ at Rangers as he gets set to welcome Sparta Prague in the Europa League tonight.
The Light Blues boss has got off to a flying start since replacing Michael Beale and is unbeaten in his first five outings. He’s picked up three wins in the Scottish Premiership and secured a spot in the Viaplay Cup Final next month against Aberdeen at Hampden after dumping Hearts 3-1 in the semi-final at the same venue last weekend. He also grabbed what could prove a vital point on the road at the same opponents facing his troops at Ibrox tonight as he bids to take a large step towards securing knockout football.
The Belgian is delighted with how things have started but knows his side are not near where he wants them to be just yet. He is currently in the ‘building period’ as he continues to get to know his players and see how they react to different situations using the example of playing a really good game or games and then sitting out at the national stadium.
He explained: “It is just the start For me a good team is a team that does it for months. And of course there will be one moment where it will be less (a dip) but the next game there is a reaction.
“Of course I am happy with the way things are going but I am not sitting on the sofa and thinking now we can let everything loose and the machine will go. I want to create a machine and I think it is possible with this group to create a machine that goes every time but we are not there yet.
“We are in the building period, not just observing. I don’t know everyone really well at the moment in every circumstances. I want to see how players react with the first disappointment or play a really good game and the next game they don’t start.
“I seen that in the semi-final. There were players who played a really good game a few games before [against Dundee] and then didn’t play in the semi-final. How is their reaction?
“So I need an observation period for a few weeks, a few months to get the details of everybody and get the best out of everybody. Do I need to slap them more or be nice more? It is different for every player.”
Clement added: “European nights are always something special, they have always been. I love it and I hope it is a really positive atmosphere in the stadium.
“I always want to win and I want a team that always wants to win, if it is against Prague or Real Madrid, it doesn’t matter to me.
“I want a team who is ambitious and wants to win the game, I am not looking for a draw but it can be that at the end of the section that a draw is also important. But we are going for three points.”
