Philippe Clement insists Rangers’ desire and hunger in their convincing 4-0 Europa league win over FCSB at Ibrox was fuelled by being “sick of losing”.
The Belgian boss came under enormous pressure after the 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock on Sunday left the Light Blues six points behind William Hill Premiership leaders Celtic and Aberdeen and the previous Euro game at Ibrox ended in a 4-1 win for French side Lyon.
There was an early reprieve when the Romanian outfit had the ball in the net only for a foul to be called but midfielder Tom Lawrence opened the scoring in the 10th minute and wide-man Vaclav Cerny fired in a double, one either side of the break with second-half substitute Hamza Igamane scoring his first goal for the Gers since signing in the summer from Moroccan side AS FAR
“We were all sick of losing,” said Clement, who revealed striker Cyriel Dessers apologised after the game for coming off the pitch with an eye injury which required Igamane to be called off the bench.
“The players, the staff, everybody was disappointed about that.
“We wanted to stand up all together, and that’s what they’ve been doing. It’s good also that it was in this way, because it’s in Europe.
“Somebody told me also it’s more than 20 years ago that Rangers won a group stage game with four goals of a difference.
“So it’s a good reference in that way, that it’s not so easy to do things like that. I still see a lot of things that we can improve in this game, but I’m happy that everybody can see that there’s potential in this squad.
“Like I’ve been saying the last weeks and months, we need time to get everything together, to connect everything together, and to get better and better.
“So I’m happy also with the goal from Igamane, his first goal for Rangers at Ibrox.
“All these things help a lot in the adaptation of the new players coming in.”
On Dessers’ “strange” departure from the pitch in the second half, the Belgian boss, who will have midfielder Lawrence assessed after he had to go off with a twisted knee, said: “Cyril got a knock or a finger in his eye or something in his eye, so he lost sight.
“He could not see good anymore. He was quite emotional about it because he wanted to stay on the pitch, but he didn’t see anything, so he ran off the pitch. That was a really strange moment for me, but he apologised after the game.
“It’s better to sit down and give time for your team-mate to come in but it was in the emotions of wanting to win, wanting to react, wanting to play well, what he was doing in the game.
“No problems with that, but it’s good lessons also for this young squad in that way, to take every moment in a really professional way.”
There was less than two minutes played when David Miculescu robbed Jack Butland as he dithered on the ball and put it into the empty net but Italian referee Marco Di Bello had signalled for a foul, sparing the blushes of the Gers keeper.
Clement said: “Yeah, it’s not something you want to see in that moment.
“And Jack knows that also, but it’s a fall on him. So it was not a goal, it’s a clear fall. But you want to stay out of the risk of that situation. “
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted his players for holding their nerve after a 6-0 home win against Stoke helped seal promotion back to the Premier League.Joel Piroe scored four goals, including Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick, with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gn...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill sent the Clarets back into the Premier League with both goals in a 2-1 win over Sheffield United that also saw Leeds promoted and left the Blades relying on the play-offs.Scott Parker made it three promotions with three different clubs in the space of six seasons as Burnley extended their unbeaten league run to a club-record 31 games, bouncing straight back to the Pr...
Burnley captain Josh Brownhill joked the Clarets had “bored our way to the Premier League” after a 2-1 win at home to Sheffield United confirmed their return to the top flight at the first attempt.Scott Parker’s side have conceded just 15 goals in 44 matches and victory over their promotion rivals ensured they could not be caught with two matches remaining.“I’m speech...
West Brom have announced the departure of Tony Mowbray after the club’s play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 Championship defeat at home to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes...
Ian Holloway emphasised his pride in his resurgent Swindon side, despite Will Wright’s own goal against Bromley ending their slim play-off hopes.Danny Imray nutmegged Tom Nichols on the byline and fired a low ball into the box which bounced off the hapless defender’s shin in the 88th minute, condemning the Robins to a 1-0 loss.Kabongo Tshimanga had earlier missed a first-half penalty f...
Grant McCann admitted the task ahead for him is to keep his players calm after Doncaster put themselves within touching distance of promotion with a 3-0 win over Colchester.Goals from Harry Clifton, Jordan Gibson and Patrick Kelly saw Rovers power into top spot in League Two.It means a victory over promotion rivals Bradford this weekend will see them promoted to League One but McCann is determined...
Leeds boss Daniel Farke saluted four-goal Joel Piroe after his side thrashed Stoke 6-0 at Elland Road to stand on the brink of Premier League promotion.Piroe fired Leeds’ fastest-ever league hat-trick with strikes in the sixth, eighth and 20th minutes and added his fourth before half-time after Junior Firpo had put Farke’s side 4-0 up in 26 minutes.Willy Gnonto headed Leeds’ sixt...
Tony Mowbray felt West Brom “lacked a bit of courage on the ball” as their play-off hopes were all-but ended by a 3-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Derby.The visitors twice punished the Baggies from set-piece situations when Ebou Adams and Jerry Yates struck from corners in the first half.Adam Armstrong’s goal halved the deficit and made for a nervy final 20 minutes until ...
Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said he would allow himself a celebratory beer after a 1-0 win at home to 10-man Watford secured their Championship status.Colby Bishop scored his 11th goal of the season to guarantee survival in the second tier with two games to spare.Mousinho said: “I will definitely have a beer tonight, 100 per cent. I think it’s a brilliant achievement.“I don&rsq...
Simon Weaver was “ecstatic” and felt that Harrogate “fully deserved” their 3-1 League Two comeback victory over Fleetwood which secured their Football League status for another season.The Sulphurites recovered from falling a goal down early in the second half to take all three points from Easter Monday’s fixture at Wetherby Road, with that result moving them nine poin...
- 1 Four Tottenham stars could leave this summer
- 2 PL side eyeing summer move for Rashford
- 3 Newcastle continue to impress in absence of Eddie Howe with Crystal Palace rout
- 4 Man City in pole position to secure Morgan Gibbs
- 5 Liverpool interested in signing Mason Greenwood
- 6 Pop icon with £580M net worth makes appearance at Stamford Bridge
- 7 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 8 Ronaldo shows a side fans never see in tender video for their daughter birthday
- 9 Arteta makes exciting Arsenal transfer claim
- 10 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche