Rangers manager Philippe Clement said that the team could have to acquire Scottish players in order to meet their European quota, but that money might also be required for “other things.”
The manager of the Light Blues gave academy product Cole McKinnon greater playing time as his team defeated Hibs 2-0 in the Scottish Cup quarterfinal. After goals from Fabio Silva and John Lundstram secured advancement, focus is now on Europe.
They are up 2-2 in their Europa League last 16 matchup with Benfica as they play their second leg at Ibrox. While praising McKinnon, Clement acknowledges that certain Rangers players have missed out on playing in Europe because the organisation hasn’t had enough homegrown players.
He admits some may need to be purchased if they can’t be developed at Auchenhowie – but Clement delivered a teasing nod that cash could be going elsewhere. The Belgian said: “I am very positive about Cole otherwise you do not given him minutes against Benfica, otherwise you do not come in today also.
“He is still a young lad but he has shown really good mentality and workrate in training and he has been growing on the ball month by month and that is positive. It is important to try and win all the games or try to, that’s my ambition. But it is also important for me to develop young players and give them chances and let them grow.
“It is important for Scottish football also to give chances to young Scottish players and let them grow. We need to look into that for our European squad because we missed several players in this squad because we did not have enough Scottish players on the list or we need to buy them – but we maybe need our money for other things.
“Or we need to build them ourselves over the next couple of years and that is one of my objectives, to get players out of the academy who can grow to become Rangers first XI players. ”
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