Philippe Clement has spoken to the media after the win over FCSB. Here is everything he had to say.
Was it important to get control of the middle of the park early?
Yes, of course against them it was an important thing, so it depends also from opponent to opponent how you put the pressing. The team did really well. We don't have much time to train on things, so it's really short in the training and showing images what you want. In that way, the team was really strong today. Nico and Bas were really good, before Bas and Dio have been also really good in that way, so that's what we need. We have so many games every three days that we need a good squad in depth also to challenge in the four competitions.
On that, how are Cyril and Leon, who both had to come off?
Cyril got a knock or a finger in his eye or something in his eye, so he lost sight. He could not see good anymore. He was quite emotional about it because he wanted to stay on the pitch, but he didn't see anything, so he ran off the pitch. That was a really strange moment for me, but he apologised after the game. It's better than to sit down and give time for your teammate to come in. It was in the emotions of wanting to win, wanting to react, wanting to play well, what he was doing also in the game. No problems with that, but it's good lessons also for this young squad in that way, to take every moment in a really professional way.
And Leon?
Leon cramped up, so I don't think there will be a big problem. I have more worries with Tom Lawrence, so we're going to see in the next couple of days what it's going to be. In a duel, somebody fell on him and he twisted his knee, so we will see in the next couple of days how serious that is.
It looked as though your team had a point to prove tonight, the way you started the game...
Yeah, of course, but we were all sick of losing. The players, the staff, everybody was disappointed about that. We wanted to stand up all together, and that's what they've been doing. It's good also that it was in this way, because it's in Europe. Somebody told me also it's more than 20 years ago that Rangers won a group stage game with four goals difference. So it's a good reference in that way that it's not so easy to do things like that. I still see a lot of things that we can improve in this game, but I'm happy that everybody can see that there's potential in this squad. Like I've been saying the last weeks and months, we need time to get everything together, to connect everything together, and to get better and better. So I'm happy also with the goal, for example, from Igamane, his first goal for Rangers at Ibrox. All these things help a lot in the adaptation of the new players coming in.
The quality of the goals that were scored tonight would please you as well…
Yes, because you have a game plan and you want to find spaces. We had one training, and to be honest, quite some things went wrong yesterday, so we had an extra meeting today about that. The players did it brilliantly this evening on the pitch. The more experience like that, the better they will recognise also the situations. So that's a work in progress, and I'm looking forward to the future with this squad. I think a lot of fans will do the same now also. It's about creating habits, it's about creating connections, it's about creating consistency with the squad to play at this level every game. So we're going to work hard on that.
Philippe, the Romanian president was true to his word. He said he would play eight reserve players effectively, and he did. Did you find that a little bit disrespectful towards this competition and to your team?
I don't think it's correct, to be honest, that it were reserve players, because these players played also last week and last month. So then Nico Raskin is also a reserve player. I don't want to talk too much about those things, I didn't go into that before the game. We focus on ourselves and how we want to play, so that's the only thing important.
Is that how you would like the team to look going forward? Is that the image of the team that you have in mind for what that should be?
Yes, of course. And we had other games like that also. This season in Malmö, last season also several. But it's about creating this more consistent. And of course it depends also how other teams play, how they defend, how they press. So you don't always have the same kind of games. But yes, to play forward, to play on the front foot, to be aggressive, to work hard as a team together, to keep clean sheets. That's also important and we have already several this season in that way. And to create chances in a good way, to score nice goals. And I think we scored a few very good goals today.
You obviously spoke about Hamza there getting his first goal. How excited should the fans be by that?
Not that I don't want to start with these hypes again and talking or riding players into heaven. And then next week when he misses a chance to kick him down with his face on the ground. No, it's a young player with potential who still needs to learn a lot. But who shows the potential and he was in a really good way in the dressing room, in the club. He didn't understand one word of English when he came, not even too much French. He's taking good English lessons together with Jefte and Oscar Cortes. So it's funny to see them together also speaking English. I in moments ask them questions in English and you get some funny answers also. With that, these are young boys still adapting to this country, to this club, to everything. But really talented boys who are going to be important for the future of this club. And who have the potential to make a next step later on, in a few years maybe. But first they need to stay humble and work really hard. And we with the staff will be on top of that.
How concerned were you in the first couple of minutes when they had the ball in the net before the referee opened on it?
Yeah, it's not something you want to see in that moment. And Jack knows that also, but it's a fall on him. So it was not a goal, it's a clear fall. But you want to stay out of the risk of that situation. But that's also Jack, afterwards he plays also a terrific game with his feet and with his hands. And he's very important for us.
Is the situation with Cyriel something you have seen before?
No, I don't remember to be honest. But Cyril is somebody who has such a big passion for this club. He wants to give everything, every day in training, every game in that way. He felt he was really good in the game and he was. And it's hard to come off. And as a player, you can have an emotional moment. They're human beings. He will learn out of that. He learned already out of that because he came straight after the game towards me to talk about that. I think there's nobody in this room who never had an emotional moment in his life. So Cyril had it. Luckily for him, all the cameras are on top of him at that moment. So nothing done there. I hope we can get him fit for Sunday. That's my priority.
You’re on six points after three games in the Europa League. Are you happy with where you are at the moment?
No, I'm not so fast happy. So I would have loved to get points also against Lyon. We knew that was a really big challenge with all the quality they have. But we're on track. I think in Europe we need to say that. And it's good to have a reference game like this for the confidence of the players, for their connection together. That they feel also where this story can go to. And that they get even more hunger and desire to become better as fast as possible. All together.
How important is it for the players now to back this performance up on Sunday?
No, not with a big win. With a win. All respect to St Mirren. It's about winning the games. And if we can make it big wins, we will go full for that. But we know it will be a hard game again. To break open the wall and not concede on the transitions and on the set pieces. So it's going to be a challenging game after a big European night. It's about recovering well. And in that way my young team also still needs to learn how to control their energy in the right moments. So those are again lessons to take out of this experience. And to grow in that the next couple of months and the next couple of years with all of them.
How important were the goals for Cerny after the criticism he has received?
Who's not being criticised? That's part of being at his level. How important was it for him, particularly the manner in which he took his role tonight? No, not only tonight. Also two weeks ago, straight after the Lyon game. He had a big chance in Malmö also. He was the most disappointed person I think in all Glasgow about missing those chances. Because he knows his quality. We know his quality also, but he has all my confidence. I told him that moment also. That he has all my confidence because he's not only a really good player, but also somebody who's working really hard for the team. So it's really a quality goal also with your lesser good foot to curl the ball in like that. So I want to see more and more of that the next weeks and the next months. That's a challenge. We cannot be satisfied after this evening, but we are there. This needs to create much more hunger to become better and better.
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