Despite Rangers’ inability to defeat Dundee in their match against title rivals Celtic on Wednesday night, defiant manager Philippe Clement is certain that his club can win the Premiership.
Soon after suffering a 3-2 defeat at home to Ross County on Sunday, Rangers dropped further points with a 0-0 draw at Dens Park. With five league games remaining, Celtic leads their Old Firm opponents by three points and has a five-point advantage in goal differential. The Gers are struggling right when the season is coming to a close—they have only triumphed in two of their last eight games.
Despite the setback in Dingwall, Clement is still fully confident that his team can defeat Celtic, saying his players responded well to the setback. The Belgian stated, “I still think that [we can win the title].” In October, I was perhaps the only person in Glasgow, if not the entire town, who held that belief. Now that six months have passed, there is a good chance that we will have won every game. Considering what I have seen this season so far, I think it is already a significant step forward and I have faith in these players and this squad. They are capable of it again.”
On the match itself, Clement continued: “They gave a reaction. We didn’t get the result we wanted. We were the only team to deserve this result this evening in the possession, in the chances also. But you need to put the ball against the net. And you also need some luck sometimes.
“So, to create the space we did, the chances were there, also on a pitch that was bumpy and it’s difficult to control in moments and do the decisive things. But, those are not excuses. My team today gave everything. I was angry, I was disappointed on Sunday. Today I’ve seen a team who of course could do better. But I saw a team that wanted to do everything to get the result and play out of the structure that we’ve always used over the last couple of months.”
Rangers were booed off the pitch by the travelling support and asked what his message was to the fans, Clement added: “That they need to stick with the team. That is super important. It is winning together and losing points together. I know as a fan you have the emotions and for sure after the game. but they have been great the last couple of months and pushing the team over difficult moments. That is what I expect also in this situation. They expect that the team gives everything to win games. Maybe in the next weeks they can push the team a few times over the line, or the ball over the line.”
