Rangers: Mega-money on offer at Ibrox if Philippe Clement doesn’t chase all the marbles
Reporter Gary Keown believes Rangers need to prioritise the Scottish Premiership over the Europa League.
The Gers are currently battling it out at the top end of the table with bitter rivals Celtic as they look to win the title.
Philippe Clement’s side are back in European action this week with a Round of 16 first leg away clash against Benfica.
Keown has written in his Scottish Mail on Sunday column (page 101, 3 March): “Europe is an important stage. It is vital Rangers stay relevant there. However, winning the domestic title this season – particularly given the vastly improved finances on offer from the Champions League next term and what that could do for a rebuild – is more crucial than anything.”
Rangers’ priority outlined by Gary Keown
Rangers need to make a good account of themselves on the European stage. After all, they reached the final a couple of years ago and were a penalty shoot-out defeat away from winning the competition.
They were beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt in Sevilla under the now Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.
Getting to finals, especially ones in Europe, are memories that live forever for fans so the club will be eager to progress past Benfica.
However, as Keown has alluded to, it is pivotal that Rangers win the title this year ahead of Celtic. Not only do they want bragging rights over their Glasgow rivals, but they will receive a lot of money from getting into the Champions League.
The increased stream of revenue would help boost their transfer budget in the summer. Clement will be looking to use the next transfer window as an opportunity to bring in some more quality to his ranks as he looks to make his side a forced to be reckoned with both domestically and overseas.
In other Rangers news, pundit James McFadden was impressed by one Gers’ ace against Motherwell.
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