Rangers manager Philippe Clement will train on Friday as the club prepare for Sunday’s game against St Johnstone.
After the Gers’ 1-1 draw at Dundee, many fans at Dens Park directed their frustration at the Belgian and believe his time at Ibrox must be over.
Clement, however, insists the club’s board – which has a new CEO in Patrick Stewart – are “200 per cent” behind him, despite Rangers falling 15 points behind Celtic after a horror run of away results that has produced just three victory in 11 games. .
When asked about the criticism from supporters, Clement said Sky Sports: “It’s normal that they are unhappy. I’m also unhappy that we didn’t get the three points. I know I’m the face of the team, it’s part of my job.
“I’m busy with the club, with the team, to let this team grow. The last two weeks, with all the changes, we lost some stability and maybe some confidence. Some players have had to play all the games and we see lack of freshness.
“Now it’s about reacting as a team on Sunday and getting the three points.”
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Rangers manager Philippe Clement reacts to his side’s 1-1 draw with Dundee amid mounting pressure from fans.
Sunday’s game against St Johnstone is the first of three consecutive home games, with Aberdeen to follow on Wednesday – live on Sky Sports – while Fraserburgh are the opponents in the Scottish Cup next weekend.
The Gers are then back on the road as they visit Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Europa League before heading to Tannadice Park as they take on Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. live on Sky Sports.
Boyd: A decision has to be made about Clement
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Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton launch a scathing review of Rangers and manager Philippe Clement after the 1-1 draw against Dundee.
Speaking on Sky Sports after Rangers’ draw at Dundee, the former Ibrox striker Chris Boyd said:
“It’s just excuse after excuse,” said former Rangers striker Boyd Sky Sports. “Rangers have got a team that needs to come here and wipe the floor with Dundee but they’re pushing on.
“Thirteen points from 33 away from home is a disgrace. You can talk about progress but there is none. You talk about players who are tired and low in confidence. You absolutely destroyed Celtic a week ago or 10 days ago – you destroyed them.
“And you’re fighting for confidence. You lose two, you draw one game and you lose one game before the Celtic game. There was no confidence in the Celtic game and now after it, you’ve drawn two games again and there’s a lack of confidence in they just don’t make sense.
“I just look at the club now and on the pitch, it’s broken. There’s no pattern of play, there’s nothing. You always refer to the Celtic game as Rangers’ best performance this season.
“But it can’t just be a one-off, we know that. It’s an absolute disgrace that Rangers are in this position.
“And you can see that you didn’t spend money. Money was spent. Yes, there was a cost reduction, but there was money spent.
“There’s no improvement. We talked about injuries getting better, too. I mean, this is actually worse.
“You can talk about moving players and playing extra minutes. Get what? You’re a footballer. That’s what you’re paid for, it’s playing minutes.
“There is no progress at all, it is done.
“Now it’s over (Rangers CEO) Patrick Stewart, because I’m telling you right now, these are the last two away games we’ve been to.
“Those fans have had enough and it will get to the stage where they stop coming to games and then you will see the real problems start to materialize for Rangers because this cannot continue.”
Sutton: Brendan pops open champagne
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Highlights from Rangers’ draw at Dundee in the Scottish Premiership
The former Celtic striker Chris Sutton on Sky Sports, after the draw at Dens Park:
“Philippe Clement must take responsibility, but it is also the players on the pitch who have the knowledge and understanding of how to win games.
“You look at the Rangers squad and think, ‘does the shirt fit many of these players?’ I have said before that there is a losing mentality at the club and nothing has changed and it is not just for Philippe Clement.
“This has been happening now for years and years and years. And you look at how pointless that performance was tonight. Celtic are laughing at them.
“Brendan Rodgers, he’ll be popping the champagne tonight, laughing at them. It’s an embarrassment that we’re at the start of January and Celtic are 15 points clear at the top. It’s shocking and it’s amazing.
“We were talking before the game and me and Kris (Boyd) thought Philippe Clement should have gone a long time ago. But they are at a sort of crossroads now because can this continue? The club is in regression.
“And so are we going to look at that or is Patrick Stewart going to look at the bigger picture and not just a game against Celtic where they step up the game or, you know, the odd game in Europe?
“Clement will come out and talk about Celtic having a bigger budget, but Rangers shouldn’t drop 19 points against teams who have a much, much smaller budget than them, and he never mentions that.
“We hear the excuses week after week now. And that’s not good enough. And it’s time for him to take ownership, but he won’t.
“But this Belgian waffle will go on and on and on. It won’t stop until a decision is made on it.”
