Philippe Clement Delighted With Gers Display

PHILIPPE CLEMENT says he was delighted with his side’s display this afternoon after a physically demanding 90 minutes on Thursday evening in the UEFA Europa League.

Rangers hit Ross County for four without reply in Govan as goals from John Souttar and James Tavernier added to Ianis Hagi’s first-half brace.

Speaking to RangersTV after the triumph, Clement commented: “I’m pleased with it, but I wanted more after the first half.

“Our tempo dropped in the second half, but I still want to see a team which goes 100 per cent like in the first half.

“But we made changes and players also get more tired after a big European night on Thursday, and the opponent were only busy to defend.

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02225 Rangers v Ross County, Jefte 40

“We need to be happy with the scoreline, and I think it’s a really good result after a big European night.

“We continue progressing as a team with a lot of young and exciting talents, helped also by the experienced players.

“I’m also really happy that I could give Bailey Rice a full half at this level for the first time, and that I could give Rafa Fernandes his first minutes so we can strengthen our depth in the future.”

It was a special moment for Souttar in the first half as the Scotland international marked his first start since December with his side’s third of the afternoon.

On the defender’s goalscoring return, the Manager continued: “John is not a player who likes to be injured and he’s a fighter.

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02225 Rangers v Ross County, John Souttar Goal Celebration 62

“He is a guy with the right mentality for this club.

“He came back in a good way on Thursday and again he played 60 minutes which was the maximum today, and he showed directly the right qualities which is good for our future.

“We’ve been working on [set-pieces] all season, but we also have a lot of other things that we have worked on.

“It has indeed been an extra focus in the last couple of weeks.”

Such was the comfortable nature of the scoreline at the half-time interval that Clement introduced Bailey Rice in midfield for the second 45 minutes.

The teenager was unfortunate not to etch his name onto the scoresheet just two minutes into the second period.

Clement was also delighted with the defensive display of Clinton Nsiala once more, who was awarded the sponsor’s Player of the Match.

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02225 Rangers v Ross County, James Tavernier Goal Celebration 141

He added: “[Nsiala’s] development has been very good. He was still a young boy when he came in and had only played youth football.

“He struggled to begin in the B Team and he struggled to get to the level there, and he’s now making good progression week-by-week.

“He is very hungry to learn all the details, speak with the staff, and listen to the experienced players around him.

“He is another exciting player for the future of this club and there are exciting times to come for Rangers.

“[Bailey] was unlucky that he didn’t score. He is still only 18, so it’s a good experience to get these minutes.

“I hope it creates even more hunger and desire to work hard on the training ground to compete with the rest.”


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