Rangers

Rangers are about to kick off a "season-defining week" for manager Phillipe Clement, according to former striker Rory Loy.

The Ibrox club welcome Tottenham in the Europa League tonight before facing Celtic in the League Cup final on Sunday.

And ex-Rangers forward Loy believes it is "a make or break" time for Belgian Clement.

"Rangers are not going to win the league," Loy said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"If they don't win on Sunday, they've lost the League Cup, and they're not going to win the Europa League, so all that's left at that point is the Scottish Cup.

"It's a season-defending thing for Clement.

"I think he's come to a crossroads where he's done enough in the last eight games for people to go, right, OK, let's see what happens on Sunday."

What happens on Sunday remains to be seen, but one thing Loy hopes to see is captain James Tavernier on the bench.

"Team selection is huge," he added. "I wouldn't play James Tavernier on Sunday. I would play him against Spurs, though.

"I think his team selection, for both games, could make or break him."

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James Tavernier says he never expects to start games despite his status as Rangers captain.

Tavernier, the long-time first-choice right-back at Ibrox, has been rotated with Dujon Sterling by manager Philippe Clement this season.

As he prepared for Thursday's Europa League tie against Tottenham, the 33-year-old said: "As a footballer, you can never expect to start your game.

"You'll get too comfortable. You don't want that. You always want to be pushing yourself.

"Every single week, I never expect myself to start. I always try and push myself. That's what I continue to do, even when I'm not playing. It's just pushing hard and obviously helping the team."

On whether he has had to change his mindset now he's not a nailed-on starter, Tavernier added: "No, just keep working hard every single day, which I do."

The Englishman is relishing an "exciting week" with Spurs coming to Ibrox before Clement's side face Celtic in the League Cup final on Sunday.

"It's down to us to grasp it, basically. It's all in our hands," he said.

"If we want to go out there and put the performances in and get the rewards for it, then it's down to us to do that."

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Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo are still out for Rangers, but winger Oscar Cortes is fit for the first time since September, though can only play limited minutes.

Midfielder Ianis Hagi and striker Danilo are both ineligible having not been registered in Rangers' Europa League squad.

Tottenham will be without first-choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven through injury, which means 18-year-old Archie Gray, usually a full-back or midfielder, is likely start in the heart of defence.

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and Richarlison are still out but Rodrigo Bentancur is available because his ban for using a racial slur only applies to domestic matches.

Former Ibrox captain Barry Ferguson suggests incoming Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart's initial focus should be on appointing a new chairman. (Record), external

Tottenham's former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou bemoans his injury list before Thursday's Europa League meeting with Rangers. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou says facing Rangers with Tottenham is the Europa League game he has been looking forward to most this season.

Postecoglou – under pressure amid Spurs' poor run of form – takes his side to Ibrox on Thursday.

The Australian, who won five out of six domestic trophies in two seasons with Celtic before his move to Spurs in June last year, said: "When the draw came out, it was the one of most interest to me because of my history up here. So I'm looking forward to it.

"It should be a good game and it's an important game for both clubs. A positive result gets you a good way to getting through to the knockout stages."

Postecoglou tasted victory and defeat in Govan with Celtic and is well aware the atmosphere at Ibrox goes up a notch on big European nights.

"Yeah, absolutely, and you've seen that this year as well," he added.

"When I was up here, particularly in my first year, they made the Europa League final so I've got a pretty clear idea of how challenging it is to play them here in front of their crowd and the atmosphere. At the same time, it's exciting.

"Their domestic season in the league hasn't gone as well as they would've liked but you can tell there's still the elements there of quality. They're in the cup final on the weekend and they've done really well in Europe."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement has challenged his players to produce "a special night" when they face Tottenham in the Europa League at Ibrox.

An outstanding 4-1 win away to Nice on matchday five lifted Rangers to eighth in the overall standings, level on points and one place ahead of Thursday's opponents.

Despite the financial disparity between Rangers and Spurs, Clement says his side can overcome that to produce an upset.

"Everything can be bridged in one night," Clement said.

"I had the luck, and it's not only luck, it's also a lot of hard work, to have as a player and as a manager several nights of those that the gap was amazingly big. And those are also the best nights.

"If you then perform and you get the results, those are also the nights that you remember all of your life. Those are also the moments that, as a player, you remember your team-mates really well.

"The moments of success, the moment of doing something special. So in that way, I hope the players can give themselves and as a team a special night."

Clement highlighted being part of the Club Brugge side that defeated a star-studded AC Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League in 2003.

"With Brugge winning in the Champions League in AC Milan 1-0, the team that the year before won the Champions League with Dida, Cafu, Costacurta, Maldini, Seedorf, Shevchenko, Ingaghi, and a few really good guys on the bench also. So that was a really special evening," he said.

"And still, if we meet each other, and it doesn't happen so much, people still talk about that evening together. So I had a few of those.

"Rangers have also several of those in the history and those are the special evenings. So it's a really nice stage for my players."

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been speaking to the media before his side's Europa League meeting with Tottenham at Ibrox on Thursday.

Here are the key lines from the Ibrox boss:

• On the financial gulf between Rangers and Spurs: "Everything can be bridged in one night."

• Clement adds: "It is a tough challenge and that is what we like. This club has a big history against tough European teams at Ibrox, this is one of the reasons players want to play for this club."

• The Belgian says these are the nights you remember for the rest of your life if you win. He referenced being part the Club Brugge team that beat AC Milan in the San Siro in 2003.

• Clement is not buying into the theory that Ange Postecoglou's Spurs - currently winless in four games and 11th in the Premier League - are in crisis, saying: "They looked pretty good when they beat Man City 4-0."

• He admits he will have to make more changes than normal with the League Cup final looming on Sunday against Celtic.

• Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo are out. Oscar Cortes - who has been sidelined through injury since September - is available for a comeback.

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• All three of Rangers forward Hamza Igamane's Europa League goals this season have come following a ball carry – no other player has scored more than once following a ball carry.

• Tottenham have spent the most minutes (276, inc. injury time) and the highest percentage of their games (57%) in a winning position in the Europa League this season of any side.

• Rangers have scored 12 goals in their five Europa League games this season, only ever netting more in a single group-stage campaign in major European competition in the 2020-21 Europa League (13).

• Tottenham won their only two previous meetings with Rangers, winning 5-2 at home and 3-2 away in the 1962-63 Cup Winners' Cup second round. Spurs would go on to lift the trophy that year, becoming the first English team to win a major European honour.

• Rangers are winless in their last six meetings with English sides in all competitions (D1 L5) since winning home and away against Leeds United in qualifying for the 1992-93 Champions League.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Rangers approach the twin challenges of Tottenham and Celtic in much-improved fettle after a four-game winning run in which performances have got better, goals have begun to flow and their defence has been breached just once.

Having commentated on the 6-0 victory over Kilmarnock, it was fascinating to watch the players' confidence increase by the goal. Combinations suddenly began to click as the patterns of play worked on in training came to fruition when it actually mattered.

No one is pretending Rangers are all of a sudden the finished article, but they are in a markedly better place than they were after the home draw against Dundee United, particularly in Europe where they are already virtually assured of a play-off place, meaning anything they take from the meeting with Ange Postecoglou's side is a welcome bonus.

But it is the League Cup final against Celtic on Sunday that could define the season for Rangers. Brendan Rodgers' squad is significantly stronger than Philippe Clement's and have shown this season they are capable of playing a standard of football way beyond what Rangers have managed.

Nonetheless, while Rangers have not won a derby of note since the Scottish Cup semi-final of 2022, this one-off game represents an opportunity to reassert themselves in this fixture and for Clement to show he is able to make his squad more than the sum of their parts.

Two heavy defeats are not an outlandish prospect for Rangers in the coming days yet neither are two positive outcomes and some silverware to boot.

For that to happen, Rangers must play with that aforementioned confidence, casting aside any inferiority complex to show that, despite a gulf in resources, they can still be a force to be reckoned with.

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

It's been a different week - two wins, nine goals, and something that resembles a football team with a plan.

We managed to get past St Johnstone and hit Killie for six. Then we went to a potentially tricky fixture, given our away form, at Ross County, and had the game won before half-time.

The main shift in the team has been the tempo, but now we have a front four that are very fluid and their movement is causing teams issues.

Hamza Igamane is playing from left to centre as the focal point, Ianis Hagi is tucked in behind coming from centre to the left and Danilo is playing centrally while being used as a presser. It's almost a 4-2-4 when we have the ball.

It's been far better to watch than the rest of the domestic games so far. But let's not get carried away.

Yes, we are now two points behind Aberdeen with a game in hand, but that doesn't really matter; the bigger picture is 11 behind the top. And there is still plenty for this team to prove.

On Thursday against Spurs, it's a chance to keep the momentum going but it won't be an easy night. Danilo and Hagi won't play - they are not in the European squad - and I would keep Dujon Sterling for the weekend.

The cup final is a different matter. The manager must show he is able to beat Celtic. He has to approach it differently and if he wins the cup it may buy him some time.

However, another defeat, especially without laying a glove on them, will lead to calls for him to go again.

It's a big week with plenty for this team to prove. Let's see where we are on Monday morning.

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Rangers defender John Souttar believes his team must adapt for Thursday's Europa League visit of Tottenham.

The 28-year-old has played every minute of this year's European campaign, during which the Ibrox club have earned 10 points after five matches - the same tally as Ange Postecoglou's Spurs.

Philippe Clement's side have enjoyed victories over Malmo, FCSB and Nice, but now must prepare themselves for the challenge of Premier League opposition.

"It'll be a completely different game," said Scotland centre-back Souttar. "We just need to transition to the European style, which I think we've done quite well this season.

"We've gone away from home and got good results against big teams, so I'm sure we'll do everything we can to do that on Thursday.

Tottenham, who are coached by former Celtic boss Postecoglou, have won just one of their last six matches and let a two-goal lead slip in a 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.

Conversely, Rangers are benefitting from an upturn in form after winning each of their last four matches, scoring 14 goals in the process.

"When you have good performances and you get results, the team actually gets better and better," Souttar added.

"So it's important that, as we've got a lot of new faces, we stick to doing the basics, because that's how you get results.

"There's no doubt we've got the talent, especially at the attacking end of the pitch that will win us games, so it's important you get the platform to do that."

We asked for your thoughts on Rangers' 3-0 win against Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

Paul: It was a good, solid and comfortable win. We have hit a decent run of form the past two weeks, looking a lot better going forward. We'll see where we are this time next week with really difficult games against Spurs and Celtic.

Stephen: Good performance. Hamza Igamane looked good. A big, big week ahead now.

Allan: The game against Ross County showed we can be competitive even on a poor surface. It was a good team performance and showed once again that when James Tavernier gets involved we gel together in a much compact and precise way. The game against Spurs on Thursday will show whether or not we can maintain our performance.

Frazer: Good away performance. Philippe Clement looks like he's found his starting 11 with Igamane and Danilo playing well. Ianis Hagi has been phenomenal coming back into the squad, can't believe we had him playing in the B team for so long. Looking forward to maybe settling something with Ange Postecoglou.

Elaine: Finally we are coming together as a team. So much better with two up front. Hopefully we keep that system for Thursday and Sunday, which will be bigger tests.

Simon: Great performances are building all round confidence. Suggestion: can we start some crowdfunding to contribute to the buying of Vaclav Cerny?

Murray: I got absolutely slaughtered on Rangers pages after the St Johnstone game for saying we were making progress, but I feel we are making progress and I have more confidence in Rangers going into the two toughest games of the season so far. Hagi has definitely made a difference to our attack, along with Danilo and Igamane.

Jordan: The last 10 days have been the strongest of the season and it gives us at least some belief we might have a chance in the cup final.

James Tavernier: The Rangers captain has looked below par during early parts of this season, certainly in comparison to his heroics in recent years, but suddenly he is looking more like his old self - two goals in two games and his strike against Ross County was superbly taken.

Hamza Igamane: A bit of a throwback in the way he plays the game in an almost off-the-cuff manner. The striker has a real freedom about the way he approaches the game which is great to watch. Showed great confidence and great ability with his superb strike against County.

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Thursday's Europa League encounter with Tottenham is a "good time" for Rangers to play Ange Postecoglou's side, says former Australia defender Ryan McGowan.

McGowan, who played under the ex-Celtic boss at international level, feels his old manager is "feeling the heat a tiny bit" after a run of four games without a win.

After dismantling Manchester City in a remarkable 4-0 triumph, Spurs have drawn with Roma and Fulham before suffering a defeat at Bournemouth.

And on Sunday, Postecoglou's men threw away a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 at home to London rivals Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Rangers are benefitting from an upturn in form after winning their past four matches, including a stunning 4-1 victory at Nice last time out in the Europa League.

"Rangers will be looking at Tottenham thinking this is a good opportunity and a good time to play them," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Spurs have not been getting the results they've wanted and they will not be looking forward to coming to Ibrox with how well Rangers do in Europe.

"That means it could be a cracking game. Rangers are in a good vein of form, they're feeling confident.

"But Spurs know if they play to their capabilities then they should be winning the game, so it sets it up perfectly on Thursday night."

Did you make the trip up to Dingwall to see Rangers continue their upturn in form by beating Ross County 3-0, or did you follow the game elsewhere?

Either way, we want to know your thoughts on the match - have your say, external.

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• Rangers have scored in each of their last seven games in the Premiership, scoring 15 goals in that run.

• Rangers have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three games in the Premiership, a run of 365 minutes without conceding a goal.

• Ross County have failed to score in nine of their 16 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers' three straight Premiership clean sheets is their longest run of games without conceding a goal in the competition since a run of six games from 1 December 2021 to 26 December 2021.

Watch the best of the action as Rangers put three unanswered goals past Ross County in Dingwall. (UK only)

Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt is keen on a January move to Rangers as the 22-year-old eyes the opportunity to play more regular football. (Football Insider), external

Rangers are unlikely to sign Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka in the January transfer window as the out-of-favour 21-year-old will attract Premier League interest and the huge financial package involved in any move for the midfielder has limited the Glasgow club's chances of a deal. (Football Insider), external

Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland is back on the radar of potential suitors after the 29-year-old ended his barren scoring spell with both goals in Saturday's 2-0 win over Dundee. (Daily Mail), external

Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has been left facing an injury nightmare as he returns to Glasgow to face Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday with pressure mounting over his Tottenham Hotspur future after Sunday's 4-3 defeat by Chelsea. (Daily Record), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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