PHILIPPE CLEMENT hopes his Rangers side can continue to showcase their improvement when they make the trip across the city in tomorrow’s Old Firm clash.
The Gers hit Ross County for six in their previous league outing, which was the first time they have netted six goals in a game since October 2021.
Speaking to the media ahead of Sunday’s clash at Parkhead, Clement said: “It is very important for the fans, the players and staff. It is our biggest rival with three big points.
“A lot of situations; there has been more negatives around the club, with the stadium and elimination from the Champions League.
‘People forget to see what is going well. We won the last game 6-0, which we haven’t done that for four years.
“It is not all bad; we have an exciting squad which is not the finished article and we are playing an experienced squad.
“I believe we can challenge Celtic and we are going for the three points. I am looking forward to the game.”
Yesterday evening marked the end of the summer transfer window, with the Light Blues adding defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo and midfielder Nedim Bajrami to the ranks.
It brought to a conclusion a window where Clement has stepped up his rebuild of the Rangers squad, bidding farewell to a raft of players while welcoming 11 new faces into the building.
The manager added: “It’s been a really busy month. I spoke at the end of last season about the end of a cycle and not everyone realised what I was talking about.
“A lot of players were over 30 and wouldn’t progress anymore. Players were out of contract and were going to leave.
“We have 16 players who have left and we have other possibilities that they may still leave the club. That is the end of a cycle.
“We made some staff changes, so it has been a massive rebuild.
“We looked to get experienced players in like Propper, Kelly and Cerny. We wanted young players to step in who have value for the future like Diomande, Cortes and Barron.
“We wanted to give Academy players a chance also.
“The more money that comes in then the more you can spend, but we knew it would take time and it wouldn’t be possible to do it in one window.
“Young players? I don’t need young players to be excited. I like working with young players, but you need to look at the market.
“It is risky with young talents and how they react to the next step; you can’t predict that.
“If you see the levels Connor Barron and Jefte are showing, it is higher than a lot of people expected.
“They are making good steps, but we want to make things better and better.”