Rangers derby win would change 'negative perception'

Scottish Premiership: Celtic v Rangers

Venue: Celtic Park Date: Sunday, 1 September Time: 12:30 BST

Coverage: Follow live on the BBC Sport website & app and on BBC Sounds; watch highlights on Sportscene

Manager Philippe Clement says victory over Celtic in the first derby of the season can change the “negative perception” around Rangers.

The Glasgow side dropped points on the opening weekend of the Premiership season against Hearts before crashing out of Champions League qualifying against Dynamo Kyiv.

A delay to building works at Ibrox have forced Rangers to play their opening games of the campaign at Hampden, adding to a sense of frustration among the club’s support.

However, Clement believes a win at Celtic Park would change the narrative.

“For the fans, we know it's the game of the season,” Clement said. “For us also, it's your biggest rival. It's three important points, but you have 34 games after.

“I think there's been a more negative perception around the club, with the stadium, with elimination from the Champions League, all these things.

“People forget sometimes also to see what's going well. We won the last game 6-0 and it could have been more than six. People have told me that it was more than four years since that happened. It’s not all bad.

“We are a young, exciting team who want to challenge. I believe we have the quality to go full out for the three points, but the finished article is not yet here.”

Rangers added Albania midfielder Nedim Bajrami and Feyenoord defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo on transfer deadline day, although the former's paperwork has not been processed in time for him to face Celtic.

The Ibrox manager says it has been “a massive rebuild” to restructure the squad.

“It's not what I've done, it's what we have done all together with the resources that were available. Let's say it like that,” Clement said.

“It's not only short term, it's also long term. If we had only one for short-term, for sure it would have cost more money and that was also not possible.

“And we need to create value for the future of this club, so that you don't keep on going in the same cycle that was going on.

“At the end of last season, six players left at the end of their contracts, with no added value to the club and the year before we had several of those as well.

“That's a legacy from the past that we cannot change in one window. But it created also a more difficult situation for everybody."