The Ibrox men are currently battling on all fronts and caught in a never-ending cycle of play-recover-play.
When Philippe Clement was a player, he detested being told to stop taking football’s adrenaline rush.
The Rangers manager also doesn’t think his Ibrox players are eager to satisfy their appetite for exciting big-time football in Europe. The Light Blues are currently caught in a never-ending cycle of play-recover-play, with little time for rest breaks due to a demanding schedule that primarily consists of three important games per week. Clement, who spent his whole career as a starting defense for Club Brugge and Belgium, is all too familiar with this behavior.
The Gers boss, nevertheless, cheerfully acknowledges that he became addicted to the rush of going from one epic match to the next. When he looks at some members of his squad, like James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, and John Lundstram, he sees a similar commitment to the hamster-wheel that is Rangers’ dual duty in the Premiership and Europa League.
The Gers supporters currently have a mindset that says the international week next week can’t arrive soon enough for those guys. Throughout their team’s recent demanding schedule of games, all three have displayed signs of fatigue. However, there is still little time to relax, as the Premiership leaders face another difficult journey to Dundee on Sunday, followed by a quarterfinal shootout at home against Benfica on Thursday.
Then and only then would Clement’s men be able to raise their feet. But their boss isn’t ready to unwind just yet. When asked if he was excited to give his squad a break, he retorted, “No! Sincerely, I’m not.
“I’ve always detested taking that break. You can get used to the rhythm of playing every three days if your body and mind are accustomed to it. One encounters one hurdle after another. You have to wait for the next one, though, all of a sudden.
It turns into an addiction, and you have to kick it—which is not an easy feat. That’s something I have today at the end of a season, when I require a few days because you feel weird without the typical amount of adrenalin. I remember that from those days.
“I believe that the players that are prepared would rather go. However, we’re currently assembling that team, so obviously not everyone is there yet.
“The team will benefit from the adrenaline on Thursday. We therefore require the fans in the same manner. The guys will undoubtedly grow weary, but you also need players who can continue to play at the same level—if not better—even when they are worn out.
“That’s a part of playing football in Europe; you have to travel every three days. You have to make an evolution as a player.
“Some of them have played for multiple seasons already and have done it in the past, so they are accustomed to that.” They are the ones that have played the most minutes over the past few weeks, as you can see. Others are still going through this transitional phase.
“In my first season, I experienced the same thing. That was more than I was prepared for. It appeared in the ensuing seasons. In this way, you develop both mentally and physically so you may push your boundaries. We’re putting a lot of effort into getting it for each and every player.
This week, Clement has also taken some time to discuss with his players how they handle referees. The German referee’s error last week, which saw his team’s 2-2 draw in Lisbon, when John Souttar headed the ball onto his own palm, infuriated the manager of the Gers.
He was also frustrated in his team’s inability to exert sufficient pressure prior to the whistler reaching the VAR screen. Prior to Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarterfinal matchup against Hibs, Goldson again rushed to get under Steven McLean’s radar when he dismissed a pair of Hibs players, demonstrating that his team had definitely learned from the lesson.
“Clearly we saw afterwards that it shouldn’t have been a penalty,” Clement remarked, reflecting on the ruling that went against his side at the Estadio da Luz. Since it struck John’s skull first, it is obvious.
But I make it a point to examine how we may improve as a team. I discussed with the team that mistakes will be made by people who are not affiliated with us.
“That’s experience as well, and I believe Pepe of Porto versus Arsenal on Tuesday is the greatest example. At forty-one, he had played in Europe for around thirty seasons!
“But he would go to the referee and claim, ‘It hit my head first, then my arm,’ if that happened to him in the same circumstance. No, experience matters more than being shrewd.
“And I’m sure that the next time it occurs with one of our defenders, he will talk to the referee and then perhaps take a different approach to the situation. Or, in order to get the best answer, he will probe the VAR further about that.
“Getting the situation on your side is not the goal. No, it’s about abiding with the regulations. However, we didn’t act in that manner, so I discussed it with my guys. We must experience those kinds of circumstances.
Prior to the match tonight, Clement declared his team to be the underdogs before leaving for Lisbon. Even though the first leg ended in a stalemate, he is sticking by his position. Indeed, he said, “I suppose [we’re still the underdogs]. Yes, if you’re realistic. No, in my heart!
“I’ve always been a practical guy, but I also have high goals for myself. I’ve seen that this group is capable of it. Before the Benfica match, I informed them that we played 2-2 in Real Madrid during my time as Brugge’s manager.
However, I think this Rangers team is superior to the previous one. If we have a good day and everything goes our way, I think we can defeat any team. I really think that to be true.
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