PHILIPPE CLEMENT believes his side have the quality to find the right balance in tomorrow’s UEFA Champions League third round qualifier against Dynamo Kiev.
The Gers boss was speaking to the media in Lublin ahead of tomorrow’s first-leg, and says his squad are mentally ready for the challenge ahead.
He said: “I believe we have all the qualities, it is about finding the right balance, it is about taking the moments and mentally they are ready. I feel it is about having experience together also with some new players coming in and then doing the right things.
“We are playing against a team I know really well because I played them 4 or 5 years ago. We qualified against them with Club Brugge, also in the qualifiers, and I see a lot of players still here, so they have really been building for years together.
“These are different games than normal league games that we have where you have the domination, and you have the ball most of the time. Even when we didn't play a good first-half against Hearts we still had 63 per cent possession.
“That is really difficult against Dynamo because they are really strong on the ball and make good combinations, so it is another level. It is a different style of play again and that is really interesting now as a challenge.
"I don't expect us to have 60 percent of the ball possession tomorrow, we don't need to, we come here for a result not only to have the ball.”
Clement provided an update on his squad as he revealed Oscar Cortes will miss the next four to five weeks after sustaining a knee injury in Saturday’s league opener against Hearts, while latest signing Robin Propper has travelled with the squad.
He continued: “Oscar didn't travel because he had a scan, and he will be out for around 4/5 weeks, so it was a really unlucky fall in a duel and his knee was twisted so it is an unlucky injury.
“Of course, it is a hard blow for him and for the team because he was coming back and he is going to become an important player for the future of the club, he has a lot of quality he showed it last season he was hungry to come back.”
On Propper, Clement added: “He is fit, but of course you come in and there's a lot of things to do at that moment. I know out of experience you have to fill in so many papers to live here, find a house, find a school for your kids and there's a lot of things going on in his head.
“He has only been with us a few days so that is something to take into consideration for the game tomorrow.
"That is the same thing with Vaclav. He had four weeks holiday and now four days with training so with them it is about looking at what is the right moment to start, and to let them come in.”
On what it would mean to guide the squad to the group stages, he said: “Of course we want to qualify, and we will do everything for that, but the Europa League is not a disgrace for sure it can be really nice.
"Like we saw last season and we were really close, it was small details against Benfica that we went out with, so it was a really good team we played against.
"It was a nice journey in the Europa league but of course everybody wants to be in the Champions League.
“For the club it would be a big difference and for the players it is the biggest stage in the world, and you can play against the best players in the world.
“I think all of the European competitions have evolved so much that also in the Europa League and Conference League you can have really big games so playing in Europe is always exciting.
"Of course, everybody wants to go to the Champions League because it makes a big difference financially and you only have top games there.”
The match against Dynamo Kyiv will be shown live for international subscribers on RangersTV with a 7pm kick-off UK time.
Fans who are in the UK will also be able to watch the match live with the game being shown on Premier Sports. The BBC will also have live radio coverage and TV highlights of the game.
Fans can also watch the action live from Edmiston House, presented by Park’s Motor Group. With a massive screen, lights and sound system which brings you closer to the action. Additional screens will also be in place to ensure everyone has a great view.
Event Date: Tuesday 6th August 2024
Doors Open: 5.30pm
Kick-off: 7pm
Ticket Price: General Admission Standing - £0* - Tickets are free of charge (Max of 4)
You can get your tickets HERE.
With Kyiv unable to play the fixture in their own country, the match will take place in Lublin, Poland as the Gers look to reach the play-off round.
If Philippe Clement's side can get past the Ukrainians, they will face either Austrian outfit RB Salzburg or Dutch side FC Twente.