The Light Blues are on an impressive run of form, with 11 league victories on the bounce in 2024 but speaking to the media at this afternoon’s press conference, Clement says his side will have to be aware of the dangers from Stuart Kettlewell’s side.
He said: “I am interested in data because it controls your feelings or backs up the feelings that you have. You see where Motherwell are in the league, and we had a special game there so you cannot take many conclusions from that, but the team did really well there.
“I also saw the game at Ibrox at the beginning of the season and it was a very difficult game. I have seen the data, and I was surprised because I didn't know, but they are the team who are third in the ranking of scoring the most goals in the league. It shows we need to play not only a game where we need to be offensively really good to break open the wall, but we need to defend as a team also really well against them. It is going to be crucial not to be naive.”
The manager provided an update on his squad with Kemar Roofe and Ryan Jack back available, while Oscar Cortes will miss out through injury.
Clement continued: “It is a muscle injury, but I cannot say much more for the moment. I don't want to go into that to speak about a half empty glass. I am focused now on the players who are available for this game, because otherwise I would've lost a lot of energy in the last couple of months and that is useless. It is a pity for him and for the team, but it is an opportunity for another player to show what they can do.
“I want everybody in their best form, so we are working with the medical staff and with the performance staff really hard on that. We have a lot of discussions about playing minutes, every game. It is game by game and looking at how players recover, how they come back and then making the right decisions all together. I have confidence in this squad and also the young guys who come to train with us.
“I said last week our strength is that every training session is really competitive. It is really pleasing to see that in these four months together every member of the squad has raised their level not only physically but also technically and for sure tactically. They know what to do so in that way it has been an important job to work with everybody and not to be focused on 11 or 14 players but on everybody and we will continue like that.”
When asked about Ridvan, and the impact of the left-back in recent months, Clement described him as a fighter as he praised his part in the squad.
He continued: “He has made a big evolution in the last couple of months, he has grown in every sense, well maybe not in every sense but almost in every sense! There were a lot of rumours around him in January and I didn't see a difference in his behaviour, his training mentality, or his togetherness with the rest of the team so that is already a strong thing.
“Secondly, he has grown on the pitch, his level is higher, physically, technically, tactically, also his resilience in the duels and his passion. He is really popular in the dressing room and also the boys really like him. He made a really good integration into the squad in the last couple of months and I don't think that was the case six months ago so credit to him he is a fighter, and we need fighters.”