Floundering Philippe Clement claimed Rangers turned in one of their BETTER performances despite slumping to defeat against Aberdeen that saw them fall NINE points behind the top two in the Premiership – and bemoaned a TOENAIL costing them a goal at Pittodrie.
The defiant Belgian insisted he was still up for the challenge of turning the Ibrox side around and pointed to the club’s annual accounts which showed a grim financial picture as the reason for him undertaking a huge rebuild which he says the hierarchy were fully behind in the summer, warning that nobody wants to return to the dark days of the financial collapse in 2012.
Jimmy Thelin’s rampant Reds claimed victory after super sub Shayden Morris blasted home after Nedim Bajrami had cancelled out Nicky Devlin’s opener at a pumped-up Pittodrie. It was a ninth home league win in a row for the Dons as they kept up their blistering start to the season – a real contrast to Rangers despite the Swedish boss only arriving in the summer.
Clement delivered a prickly post match Sky Sports interview with the Belgian asked if Aberdeen wanted it more which saw him point to a bright second half start for his side. He said: “Which team wanted it more in the second half? Which team was defending? We were attacking so we wanted it. We were most times in the box in the second half but Aberdeen wanted it also and they took it. We threatened enough but didn’t finish clinical enough.”
“It was hugely disappointing to lose but it was a game we could have had a draw or on a good day, when things fall your way, that we win. We scored a goal and one toe or toe nail was offside. Those moments are not on our side at this moment. We started well and then Aberdeen took over and we struggled really hard.
“We took the game in our hands in the second half and got the chances but we didn’t score them and they scored on the rare occasion that they got a chance. We need to be more clinical in the final third to win these kinds of games – and to have luck on your side, like with the offside. It’s a disappointing one of course.“This is one of our better performances this season with the new squad. All credit to Aberdeen with the way they played now at home and also at Celtic Park. They are where they deserve to be and we’re working hard to make things better on our side. It was one of the better performances of several new players and we need to build further on that but of course to take the points and it’s about reacting fast and being ready for Sunday (Premier Sports Cup semi final v Motherwell).
“In points we should, for sure, be further ahead but if the toe nail wasn’t there it was 2-2 today. It also decides the perception after – it’s not that Aberdeen blew us away.
“The fans want to win and we also want to win and we need to get better to make up those nine points. But it’s about game after game and not only focusing that. We need to get a momentum again with a series of results.”
On his future he added: “It’s not about me. It’s about the club. A big rebuild was necessary and you have seen the numbers (annual accounts) that were made public and shows what was necessary; with cutting down the wages, making a younger squad because the squad was old. That was a decision made by everyone in the club. All these things, that was a decision made by everyone in the club and everyone sticks behind it because it was the only way to stay healthy as a club and sustainable. I don’t think fans want to go back to the situation of 12 years ago.
“Of course it’s a harder job than when you have money and you can get experienced players in but I totally went into the challenge and I’m totally going into the challenge also because I’m convinced with this group of players and in the next transfer windows we’ll make a good future of the club.”