PHILIPPE Clement insists it is ‘all about mentality’ as Rangers continue a hectic festive fixture schedule with a Christmas Eve match away to Motherwell.
With four Scottish Premiership matches to come in the space of 10 days, the Gers boss wants his side to continue their recent form and consistency as they head for Fir Park on Sunday.
Sitting down with the media at this afternoon’s pre-match press conference, he said: “It is crucial, it is all about mentality, if their mentality drops all the rest drops, so it stays crucial and to win this marathon you need to be consistent.
“There will be one moment that we are going to lose points. I am realistic. I am not naive, but we need to push every time to get these three points and also in the way we want to do it.
“It is a big period, still four games and a lot of points to win. The winter break is then coming, and the winter camp is coming which is going to be really interesting for me to train more with the team and to speak more with the team.”
When asked what he expects from Motherwell, the Gers boss says he will have his team ready for every scenario. He said: “I expect everything, we always prepare the team for different scenarios, not for one, because I don't want my team to be surprised in whatever way.
“It doesn't matter what is the plan on the other side we just have to be ready to do what we have to do in that case, and it is about small details that are different in that way but I always try to prepare my team for every scenario.”
On his squad, the manager confirmed John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe will both miss the match after injuries against St Johnstone, while none of the other injured players are expected to return to the squad.
He continued: “I cannot say there are a lot of options, every game we have to look at what the best options are for the team and that is a strong point. I think what the team and the players have been doing if somebody has to play in a position they are not used to they have been giving their best and giving everything.
“The story is clear in every position what to do so if people have to play in a position, they know also what to do there with and without the ball. If you look back at this period until now there are several players who have done a really important job for the team in that way. We are in a situation that we need to continue by being creative.”
On the strong recent defensive record, Clement added: “It is important, we have a lot of clean sheets, if you have clean sheets, you are really close to winning games because with the way we are playing we will always create chances.
“The most important thing is that the players understand with our more offensive way of playing we need to also defend better and that they understand what to do. Of course, there have been some mistakes and some goals against which we could have avoided but I see the players are really concentrated not to do it two or three times.
“It is not only about defence, or Jack [Butland], who is a really good goalkeeper of course, but also the work that midfield and strikers are doing, it is really a team effort.”