Philippe Clement has highlighted the financial disparity between Rangers and their next two opponents as he prepares for a pivotal week in the Ibrox club’s season.
First, Rangers will host English Premier League heavyweights Tottenham Hotspur, led by former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, in a high-stakes “Battle of Britain” Europa League clash on Thursday.
Just days later, Clement’s men will face their fiercest rivals, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic, in the Premier Sports Cup Final at Hampden on Sunday. Both fixtures promise to be defining moments in the campaign.
Rangers approach this daunting double-header in strong form, riding an eight-game unbeaten streak and buoyed by a four-match winning run.
Their latest victory, a commanding 3-0 triumph over Ross County in Dingwall, showcased their growing confidence.
Goals from Hamza Igamane, Danilo, and captain James Tavernier ensured a dominant performance in the Highlands, setting an ideal tone for the challenges ahead.
Clement acknowledged the significance of the victories in building momentum and praised his squad’s readiness for the upcoming tests.
The financial chasm between Rangers and their upcoming opponents, however, remains a stark reality. Spurs, with their Premier League resources, and Celtic, with their greater financial muscle domestically, present formidable challenges on and off the pitch.
Nevertheless, Rangers will look to draw on their recent form, team spirit, and the backing of their passionate supporters to overcome the odds in what promises to be a decisive week for Clement’s side.
“It’s a hard place to win, but to win in that way is even better, the Belgian stated: “I’m very pleased about our domination, how we controlled the game, how we kept our organisation and concentration.
“We want this variation (in our play). We want this movement, people free in spaces. Everyone is starting to recognise what we do when. You get more fluidity.
“I’m satisfied because the team is going where we want to get too in the last couple of weeks and it’s a really important victory, not only for the three points but the way we scored the goals and didn’t concede like I want to see.
“It takes time to form this connection between players and you see now they’re starting to understand their role much better. They’re starting to gel together really well.
“This is the football out fans want to see, especially at away games. If you want to be a Rangers player then you need to do that.
“We’ve been pushing that button all season to get that really clear in their heads and you can see now everyone is buying into that.
“I’m very proud what the team showed, also very proud of the fans who came this long way to support us. It was amazing to see that support for the entire 90 minutes, they gave the team a lot of energy.
“We need to keep building on this. (This form) gives confidence, but I know we’re not there yet. Of course, we’ve got two totally different kind of games now, maybe we need to say they are financially out of our league.
“But we’re going to compete in that way and it’s a really nice challenge for our squad to show what they can do against those teams.”
