Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been talking transfer incomings, outgoings and the injury state of play after the club’s friendly draw with Copenhagen.
The Gers played out a 2-2 draw with Danish Superliga side, who’ve qualified for the knockout round of the Champions League.
Rabbi Matondo had put Rangers ahead in the match before Kevin Diks equalised, Cyriel Dessers’ restored Rangers lead, and Johnly Yfeko headed home an own goal from a corner kick.
A total of 22 players from the Rangers squad played in the game as the club prepares to restart their competitive campaign against Dumbarton in the Scottish Cup this weekend.
But with the transfer window looming large and injury speculation aplenty, Philippe Clement’s focus wasn’t just on the Ibrox friendly clash come full-time.
Here’s everything the Rangers manager told the post-match press conference after the Gers were held at home by Copenhagen.
Philippe Clement press conference: Rangers v FC Copenhagen
Philippe what did you get from this evening’s exercise overall?
“A lot. This was the end of a very intense training camp, training week, where we put a big load on the team to make them physically better and they showed the right things. I think everybody that saw the game saw a good tempo, good tempo on the ball, two really good goals and several really good actions and chances. So I am happy about the way that we finished, did the finishing with the two goals, because we’re working hard on that. That’s for sure a point we can improve from the last couple of months. On the other side also, a few players come out of long-term injury. We could train them, not fully like the rest of the squad, but they are coming, getting better, they could take some minutes also today. So they’re also on the right track. And we had several young players out of Academy with us this week, to make them better, to let them learn the story of how we want to play. I wanted to give them this experience also because this is the highest level they ever played and they showed good things. OK, with the set pieces, the two goals we take you see also that they don’t know everything yet but that’s impossible in one week. That’s why they need to get these experiences to make faults and to learn out of that. Otherwise it was the perfect evening I think.”
How would you assess the shape of your squad ahead of returning to competitive games? You’re getting some players back from injury, you have Fabio Silva in, had you hoped to have more bodies through the door for the return of these games?
“Yes, everybody’s aligned about that, that we need a few more in certain positions. And everybody in the club who is involved in that is working day and night about that, I know. We are a lot in contact. It’s been really busy with those things but until a signature is set by three parties – player, we, and the other team – until that is not done, it’s not done. So I am waiting and I am focused on the players who are here, beside all the talks that we have with other players and looking at other players. So that’s my job to do in January. That’s why for every manager, when it’s the first of February, we are always very happy that this hectic period can stop.”
Do you feel you’re getting closer to getting any of these deals done? There are a lot of things going on.
“I get this question a few times but what is closer? So long as there is not a deal, you’re not closer or further away. There are some things close but it needs to be finished.”
There has been a lot of speculation about Ridvan’s future can you just spell out, has there been any contact and do you expect him to still be with the club when the January window ends?
“I cannot respond on that because – and not for any player who is here – I am busy with one thing, everybody who is here is a player of Rangers and I commit fully with all the staff to get the best out of them. But for every player at Rangers, if there comes an offer that is not to be refused, or it’s a good thing for the club at that moment, then we need to discuss it. For the moment it’s not the case so Ridvan is here and he’s started the game also, so I see it that way.”
If you see him, he’s really producing some good form at the moment. Against Kilmarnock he was excellent, tonight in the first half especially he was good. He’s a player you’d like to keep around if you can?
“We will see. We will see what’s going to happen. It’s also players need to show they really want to be here the next couple of months so we need to be prepared for everything, for every position also, that if something happens we have solutions. That is one position that we have two players; one is end of contract and the other one there is a lot of rumours around. So it’s clear that we need to be ready for that position to have solutions.”
Will you only sell players or allow players to leave if you have a replacement lined up?
“We cannot go on in three competitions with one left full-back, that’s clear, for example. And in other positions it’s the same.”
Is it frustrating at all Philippe just how long it’s taking for transfers to get over the line?
“That’s a nice question. Maybe when I was 20 years younger I would respond in the way you want. No, I know this period, it’s nothing new. One of the reasons that I came to this club was because the talks with everybody inside the club who take decisions was really good. That I would be involved in everything and that’s the case. I hear every detail about every talk or everything that is going closer to signing or not. I know everything. I cannot ask for more. I know that everybody is working day and night. I see it also the hours that they call me or send me messages. So no I am not frustrated. I want the best for the club, I want the best for the group, and I know everybody is working really hard for that. So if it’s tomorrow, or it’s the 31st of January, that’s difficult because we don’t control those things, we can only work really hard for that.”
For the players that are here do you feel that they are refreshed and ready to go ahead of another big part of the season coming up?
“What’s your feeling after this evening? Yeah, I think everybody has seen 22 players on the pitch today giving their maximum, giving everything for the club. Some in positions that are not their’s also. Like Cole (McKinnon) played left winger, it’s not his best position but it’s a good experience to play at this level. There were no other wingers available for this game. Leon King playing right full-back for example and doing his best in that position and playing a good game. So no I think that’s our main force for the moment that everybody’s working very hard, that everybody’s there for the team, not for themselves. I will keep that under control. If somebody thinks for himself he will not be part of the team to start, that’s also clear for them. And they all feel good in that way. I think maybe the most important thing of this week, next to building a better physical load, but we cannot change a lot in one week, that’s impossible. We need several months to make that better that situation, where I want to get the team. But for me the most important thing of this week was that we had with almost all the players individual talks. I told them also afterwards that I do it everywhere, every time in this period and also in the summer. It’s been the most open and honest and truthful talks I’ve had with the squad, about their own working points, about what they think they can do better, about what they did well already, about the club, about what we can make better as a staff, all the things around them. So it was super interesting. It’s been a very intense week for myself also and my staff, we had these talks every evening from 8 until 11 and then afterwards making the training for the next day so we missed some sleep but I am really satisfied with what I saw. Because this group with a lot of young lads is in the right direction and it’s important to keep our shape in that way, going in the right direction.”
Philippe could you give us an update on Ben Davies? He hasn’t been around the first team squad lately.
“Yeah he’s still injured. He’s working individual with the physios but he’s not there yet to train with the group.”
Do you think he’ll be back within the next…
“I expected him back this week but it’s not the case so I don’t want to make, I want to let the medical staff work with players. Some recover really fast, others it goes a little bit slower but everything stays around the schedule. There’s I think other updates; Kieran Dowell was not here today because he got injured in La Manga and he will be out for, yeah, for several weeks. I think it will be around two months or something that he will be out. So that’s long-term, that’s a big blow of this week.”
Philippe in the middle of the park you’ve got players coming back like Ryan Jack, Cifuentes for example, Raskin, how encouraging is it to have those players back and those options available after being so stretched in December?
“I want everybody fit. I have a really good track record in that way, that in all my teams until I came here I had an availability until the end of the season of more than 90% of the players in the trainings and in the games so that’s what I want to create here also again. But we need to change to get that a few things in the club and we’re really busy with that to make things better.”
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