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6 Philippe Clement Rangers presser takeaways on Ibrox buzz and what new signings are expecting

Philippe Clement held his Rangers presser today
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Rangers fans will be excited about a return to Ibrox this weekend. But Philippe Clement has been unable to contain his own enthusiasm.

The Belgian admits there is a "buzz" around the club as they finally get to put their Hampden sting behind them and get back to playing in front of that famous vociferous Ibrox crowd. Their summer signings will be experiencing it for the first time as Gers players and will hope it can help them into the semi-finals.

Rangers are the holders of the Premier Sports Cup and Clement knows how important the competition can be, his only trophy so far which helped keep the fan base on side last season. He has been previewing the Dundee clash and we have picked out some of the main takeaways from the presser.

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Ibrox buzz

To be honest, it's a buzz. You feel it in the building. I was there yesterday because there was something for the commercial there to do. And you get a special feeling coming back there. I know it's the same with all the players. I feel it already this week in the training. It gives something extra and I think it will be with all the fans also. It's like coming home after a really long time. It felt like we haven't been there for 10 years or something. It's not that long but we have that feeling so we're really happy that we can be back there. Of course it always helps (the team). The enthusiasm of the fans and in that way, Hampden was more difficult and We know why. It always helps. It's not only here. It's with a lot of clubs in the world. It's the same playing for your fans For sure, at Ibrox, with so many people and so passionate people. It's a big help always to play there and to have that support. It's different.

Do the new signings know what to expect?

I don't think you can put that in words. It's a feeling that you need to experience. Of course I talked about that before they came in. In the positive moments but also in the moments when it's difficult. Ibrox can also be difficult if you're not performing. So they need to be ready for that also and to perform well. So it needs to be extra motivation in that way.

Defending League Cup

You know me already now. I want to win everything. That's the goal of everything I do in life. I want to see that with my team also. It's another competition where you go full to the victory. Some of them had the feeling already last season. We have a lot of new faces in the building but they all know already that, for me, every game is with the same importance and we want to win everything. That's where we put the bar for ourselves. It's the next challenge.

Club needs a lift?

It's quite a negative question because if you talk like that, it's like everybody is running around here like zombies with their head down. It's not the case. You saw the game last week, moments in games in the weeks before. You see we're rebuilding the squad, new players coming in. There are a lot of positives here. I don't like to speak about individual players too much so I will not go into that. You start to see the first fruits of the seeds that are planted and it's just the first start. We're just starting with that. I want to see confirmation of that and becoming stronger and stronger week by week, month by month. That's the thing. but of course if it's in Ibrox with all the support behind, it lifts players in that moment. I think it will be for the fans also totally different. They will be back with the people they are used to being with in the stands, next to them, behind them, in front of them. To have the talks again like they had before, to have the memories of before. It's like coming home with your family. That will be the feeling. Of course the most important thing stays what you do on the pitch. That stays the most important, what the players show from the first second of the game. We know it's a tough game always against a team of Tony who play good physical football. They adapt to the opponent and they are strong in the transitions. With [Simon] Murray they brought a really good player in that style of play also. He showed that in Ross County last season. It's really important to come back to Ibrox and have a good atmosphere. Yes, but the most important stays what we show on the pitch. That we cannot forget in that way.

Squad update

The same as last week. So Ridvan, Dani will stay out and Rabbi also. So Ridvan and Dani are individually on the pitch training, not with the team. Rabbi not yet. And the rest of the team will be available for selection.

Domestic priority?

No, you cannot put priorities here. You cannot throw away any competition. Because Europe stays also important for this club. It's the image of the club also. If we only invest in our domestic games and we just throw away the European games it will not be good for our Rangers, for the reputation outside. It will not be good for Scottish football also, for the reputation outside if you throw away results. And also for the value of players. It's also important that if they perform really well in Europe, their value increases also. So all the competitions are important. You cannot put differences in that.