'I don't agree' frustrated Clement butts in on journalist with Gers star caught in middle
11/28/2024 05:42 AM
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has snapped back at a reporter for a controversial suggestion about the Ibrox side's style of play.
Ahead of Rangers' Europa League clash against OGC Nice, Philippe Clement was addressing a pre-match press conference alongside John Souttar.
But when Souttar was asked if the squad was 'well-suited' to the European game, Clement couldn't resist butting in.
The Rangers manager pointed to injuries as having a big impact on the club's creativity in final third.
It comes with Rabbi Matondo, Tom Lawrence and Oscar Cortes missing much of the season through injury, and Ianis Hagi only just returning to the first-team squad.
Philippe Clement snaps back over playing style
"I don't agree with the story that the style of playing, what we want to do, suits Europe but doesn't suit domestic football," said Clement.
"I think we had also with Ianis Hagi not being available for a long time, injury of Tom Lawrence, injury of Oscar Cortes, of Rabbi Matondo, we lost a lot of creativity in that way and we had to find other solutions.
"Nedim (Bajrami) has been playing a lot on the left side. He can play there but he can play also in the midfield.
"And Nedim and Vaclav (Cerny) had to play all the games, also with the national team. So those are things that are taken into account.
"Getting all these players back will raise also our freshness in our offensive part and will raise our creativity."
Rangers defender backs manager claims
John Souttar is also isn't convinced that the Rangers team is better suited to the rigours of the European game.
The Scotland international, 28, gave his two cents on the situation prior to Philippe Clement having his say and reckons Rangers need to show more domestically.
"I don't think it's anything to do with style or we change it," said Souttar.
"It's just we've performed better in Europe than in some league games. We've performed well in the league in some games but in Europe we've probably done it more consistently.
"That's something that we're trying to correct in the league but everyone is looking forward to tomorrow because it's a great opportunity for us.
"Another away game in Europe with a big travelling support so everyone's looking forward to it."
