Philippe Clement hates saying ahead of Rangers v Hearts
Philippe Clement says there is no reason for his Rangers players to be any more motivated for their Scottish League Cup semi-final than any other game.
The Gers, who are unbeaten in four games since Clement succeeded Michael Beale, take on Hearts at Hampden Park on Sunday (5 November).
Recently appointed boss Clement will have a serious opportunity to land silverware early in his tenure if his side overcome Hearts, but the Belgian will not treat the game any differently to the midweek league win over Dundee.
“I told them with the circumstances before the game in Dundee,” he said, via the Daily Record [4 November]. “It does not matter if we play in the national stadium or parking lot – it’s about one thing: winning games.
“I hate this idea about extra motivation because it’s a semi-final. I want the players to be motivated for everything.
“If I think, ‘Oh, now they’re motivated because it’s a chance to win a cup’, no, that’s the wrong message. They need to be motivated every day.”
Pumped up
This is the perfect mentality for any manager to have, especially early in his reign when he is perhaps conscious of saying the right things to supporters.
Rangers have a number of key games coming up across multiple competitions, with each seemingly more important than the last.
But this is knockout cup football, meaning there is zero margin for error. If Rangers lose to Hearts, their wait for any sort of silverware goes on.
Playing at the national stadium will get the players that little more pumped up, regardless of how Clement sees it.
That is not a criticism of the head coach, but rather the simple truth that it is human nature.
While the Scottish League Cup is usually bottom of the list of priorities, lifting the trophy next month would be quite the way for Clement to properly introduce himself to Rangers fans.
There can be no taking the eye off the ball for that to happen, so here’s to victory over Hearts at Hampden.
In other Rangers news, Stevie Clifford believes Clement is eager to strengthen one position in particular in January.