Sparta Prague 0-0 Rangers: Philippe Clement sees glimpses of winning mentality
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Rangers manager Philippe Clement reacts to his side's 0-0 draw away to Sparta Prague.
Rangers will take time to "create the story together", says manager Philippe Clement after his side's hard-fought draw at Sparta Prague.
The Ibrox boss watched his side toil early on in their first Europa League game under his charge, with the Scottish visitors not threatening until late in the 0-0 stalemate.
But Clement, who took charge earlier this month, has called for patience.
"It's impossible to create the story together in 10 days," he said.
"We talked about it at half-time. That's not the phase I want to see of my team, but the reaction in the second half was really good. We need to build on that in the next couple of weeks, months.
"I'm a winner, I want to win always. I want the team to have the same mentality and I saw it also after the game."
Rangers' sticky start to the game was certainly not helped with a change of system forced upon the Belgian and his team.
With Borna Barisic and Dujon Sterling injured and Ridvan Yilmaz not in the European squad, the new manager had no natural left-back available, which meant attacker Abdallah Sima playing left wing-back.
But after being forced to defend deeply and rely on Jack Butland in goal, Rangers eventually regrouped and could well have nicked a win through chances for Sam Lammers and substitute Danilo.
"The second half was much better," said Clement. "In the end it was a game that was in the balance, the first half for Sparta, the second half for us. But I am happy with the reaction.
"It has been a very special week, losing three left full-backs and because of that we had to change the system and doing that with two training sessions is very difficult for any team in the world.
"If you have time to prepare on those things it is different but that was not the case."
The draw leaves Rangers firmly in the mix to qualify at the halfway point, with two of their three remaining games to come at Ibrox.
"It's a very important point," said Clement.
"We want to see a team fight for each other until the edge and over the edge to keep clean sheets and that is two clean sheets in a row.
"If you do that you take a lot of points in the season, but I don't want a team that only play for clean sheets and only defends to keep clean sheets.
"I want a team that plays good football and creates chances like they showed in the second half."