Image source, SNSJames Tavernier has scored once so far this season
Rangers captain James Tavernier defends his own form so far this season and is ready to play 60 games this season. (Sun), external
Celtic fan Archie Gray is eager to face Rangers for Tottenham in this season's Europa League. (Record), external
Embattled Rangers manager Philippe Clement is drawing hope from last season as he attempts to revive the club's fortunes, insisting he will "continue fighting to make things better".
Image source, SNSUnder-pressure boss Philippe Clement has sent a message to Rangers supporters as he "works really hard" to turn around the club's fortunes.
Rangers, having fallen nine points behind Premiership top two Celtic and Aberdeen after defeat to the Dons in midweek, face Motherwell in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday with Clement "very confident" he retains the board's backing.
"As (the fans) saw last season, with the right conclusions, the right attitude, the right mentality, the right spirit, things can change really fast. And we are working really hard on that with all the group," Clement said.
"Every loss is a drama, it’s a really bad thing. That's what you need to live with, and what you need to embrace. Because of that, you have also the good moments and we're going to continue working hard with the squad to have that in their minds."
Holders Rangers, who beat Aberdeen to lift the trophy for the first time in 12 years last season, have the opportunity to reach back-to-back League Cup finals.
Clement has faith in his squad to bounce back from the midweek disappointment at Pittodrie and says everyone in the team took responsibility for their recent underwhelming performances.
"I'm going to do the same as I did last season and the same as I'm doing now," he added.
"I do a little bit more in the club than that moment because there are also a lot of other things to do.
"But for sure, I'm very confident about that. I feel also how the team works, how they were in the meeting also today.
"It's also not a team that does not take responsibility. They took responsibility, the staff took responsibility, I take responsibility and we all go forward to make things better."
Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSRangers manager Philippe Clement has been speaking to the media before the League Cup semi-final against Motherwell on Sunday.
Here are the key points:
Clement is "very confident" the board will keep faith in him even if results don't turn around quickly.
The Ibrox boss says he has not spoken to the board recently as "they have been really busy with other things". He adds they are aligned with him regarding the long-term "story" of the club.
Clement says that with the right attitude, spirit and mentality things can change quickly and they are working really hard on that with the squad.
He is impressing on every player what Rangers is about, that "every loss at this club is a drama" and a "bad thing". And he'll continue to work hard with the squad so they have that in mind.
The Belgian wants to see more "fight" and consistency from his players.
Clement also says the foundation is now being built for a healthy club, but insists that can't be done within one transfer window. He reiterated the "longer-term project" he's working towards.
The players and management are taking responsibility for the poor form, and the team are not "giving up", so they'll keep fighting to get good results.
Michael Grant, The Times' Scottish football correspondent, says under-pressure Philippe Clement "won't survive" as Rangers manager if his side lose to Motherwell in Sunday's League Cup semi-final.
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Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes is the bookmakers' favourite to become Rangers manager should Philippe Clement lose his job, with former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and Malmo's Henrik Rydstrom next in the betting. (The Scotsman), external
Former Rangers centre-half Craig Moore says his friend and former Ibrox team-mate Kevin Muscat still keeps an eye on the Ibrox club's fortunes but reckons the best chance of making him manager was when Philippe Clement was appointed instead - because the 51-year-old Englishman is close to securing the Chinese title with Shanghai Port, where he is earning big money and working with top players. (Scottish Sun), external
Fans and pundits have called for former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard to resign as team boss after Al-Ettifaq lost to second division team Al-Jabalain in the King Cup on Wednesday night and with his side sitting 10th in the Saudi Pro League. (Daily Mail), external
Castore, the Manchester-based manufacturer that has made Rangers' kits and training wear since 2020 and oversees all the Scottish Premiership club's retail operations, has announced a huge £28.8m loss for the year up until February 2024. (The Herald), external
Celtic have more than £75m extra cash in the bank than Rangers as the financial gap between the two Old Firm rivals continues to grow. (Football Insider), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSAndrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSNine - that's the most important number to Rangers fans right now.
They trail Celtic and Aberdeen, the Premiership's pacesetters, by a massive nine points before November. For many, it is not good enough.
But what are the underlying numbers that can shed a little light on why Philippe Clement has been unable to get Rangers firing this season?
The attack has been a major problem. Defensively, they've been better than most. They've only conceded eight goals - the second best record in the league - while Jack Butland has kept five clean sheets.
Up top though, it's been disastrous. They've scored just once from set-pieces, the lowest tally in the league. Only one goal has come from a cross, while they're yet to score a single header. Every other team has.
The character of the team also comes into question as Rangers are the only Premiership side that has failed to pick up any points from losing positions. When Rangers go behind, they have been unable to fight back.
In Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Aberdeen, they scored just their second away goal of the campaign and their form on the road is far worse than in recent seasons.
In five road trips this term, Rangers have won just one and lost three. Their away record is the eighth best in the division. Including the end of last season, Rangers have two away victories in 10, and one in seven.
There is also a story to be told in Clement's team selection. The Belgian has made 29 changes to his starting line-up. Only Hearts have made more.
In doing so, he's used 26 players - the most in the league. Of course, Rangers have had to deal with the demands of frequent European games but there is a suggestion that Clement does not know his best starting XI.
Image source, SNSCyriel Dessers insists last season's title tilt proves Rangers can recover from a slow start to challenge for the Premiership.
The Ibrox side overcame a seven-point deficit on Celtic last term to briefly top the table before falling away.
Philippe Clement's side, having lost 2-1 at Aberdeen on Wednesday night, are now nine behind Celtic and Aberdeen after 10 games.
“Last year around this time we were in a similar situation, and I think by new year we kind of closed the gap, and then later in the season we came back again, so it’s not impossible, but we will need to up our level in more games," striker Dessers said.
“It was extremely difficult and painful. Obviously it was a big game, so you arrive with some expectations, and to walk off the pitch with a loss really hurt.
“We found control in the second half and at that time I think we had some small chances. We missed a little bit in terms of creating the big chances to finish it off."
Rangers fans vented their frustration at Pittodrie and on social media with pressure building on manager Clement.
"Obviously [the fans] travelled all the way there to support us again so I can understand them," Dessers said. “They want to see us win, they want to see us compete, they want to see us on the top of the table.
“We’re not there yet, and hopefully we can start fighting back now and give them something to be more happy about. Obviously it’s difficult to see their reactions, and that hurts. But we know they're hurting as well."
Rangers travel to Hampden on Sunday to face Motherwell in the League Cup semi-final.
"It was already huge," said Dessers. "A chance to go to a final, hopefully our third cup final in a row, that would be massive, but with the result against Aberdeen, obviously it will become even bigger to give our fans something back."
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNS"He's starting to lose the players."
As damning indictments go, Derek Ferguson's analysis of Philippe Clement's current position as Rangers boss is right up there.
That came after the latest defeat in arguably their biggest game of the season - the 2-1 loss at Aberdeen that leaves Rangers nine points behind the Dons and Celtic after just 10 games.
"He's losing me," former Ibrox midfielder Ferguson added on Sportsound. "When he first came in, I was impressed by the way he turned things round but he seems to be seeing a different game from the one I'm seeing.
"I speak to guys who are still involved and they tend to agree with me. He's under pressure because of the level of performance."
Two defeats in the last three league outings have increased the pressure on Clement, who took charge just over a year ago and signed a new deal until 2028 at the start of the season. Even Rangers wins this term have been less and less convincing.
"There would be a bit of hope if there was a better level of performance but I’ve not been seeing it," Ferguson said. "Against a struggling Hibs side, they were fortunate to win. Against St Mirren, they didn’t deserve all three points.
"He needed to win against Aberdeen by hook or by crook and he didn’t. All the flak that's coming, he’s got to take it on the chin because he’s under severe pressure. The club from top to bottom is an absolute shambles."
Former Rangers striker Billy Dodds believes Clement is increasingly losing the backing of the support.
"The Rangers fans are on the brink, the edge of the cliff," he said. "They've had enough. The banners have been out saying ‘don’t disrespect the club’. They know that decisions higher up are not correct, and they’re letting them know they're not happy."
Despite the negativity around the loss at Pittodrie, Clement was insistent it was a decent performance from his side, claiming it was "one of the better performances from this new squad" - but former Rangers keeper Cammy Bell disagreed.
"Rangers are so, so far off it," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"The fans are numb listening to Clement after the game and he's delusional, the way he's talking. What he's trying to put over to the press and fans is completely the opposite to what we're seeing on the pitch."
Image source, SNSUnder-pressure Philippe Clement insists the nine-point gap on Celtic and Aberdeen is not insurmountable despite Rangers' poor form.
The damaging 2-1 defeat at Pittodrie on Tuesday night - Rangers' third league loss in the opening 10 games - has intensified the scrutiny on Clement.
The Ibrox manager said: "Yeah, it's a big gap, but if you're focused on the gap, you're not focused on taking the points.
"So when I stepped in last season, there was also a big gap [seven points] at that moment and we came back all the way, but did not succeed at the end of the road.
"So it was a story of game-by-game, giving the maximum so that's what we need to do again.
"Last year it was possible, so this year it's also possible. I think we were the team in the second half going for the winning goal, getting the most time in the box of the two teams, but we were not clinical enough in that way to take the lead.
"Also, knowing that we scored the goal and it's disallowed for a toenail offside, it could have been a different result also out of that."
Image source, SNSAberdeen have scored six goals via substitutes in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.
Rangers have attempted 22 crosses in this match, higher than their season average of 21.7 in the Premiership.
Graeme Shinnie has attempted six tackles in this game, more than any other player (ahead of Connor Barron - five tackles).
James Tavernier has created 26 chances this season, the joint-highest total in the Premiership (alongside Matthew Kennedy).
Image source, SNSPhilippe Clement's Rangers lost for a fifth time this season in all competitions
Former Rangers forward Kris Boyd says Aberdeen have a better manager, team and recruitment set-up than the Ibrox side after the Dons beat the Ibrox side on Wednesday evening. (Sun), external
Boyd says manager Philippe Clement's time at Rangers is up. (Record), external
Vaclav Cerny missed Rangers' 2-1 loss at Pittodrie with a minor injury not thought to be serious. (Sun), external
Rangers' recent accounts that showed a £17m loss are worrying former player and manager Ally McCoist. (Football Scotland), external
Were you at Pittodrie or following the match elsewhere?
Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say here, external.
Image source, SNSRangers manager Philippe Clement: "We started the game well, but when Aberdeen took over and we were struggling, we went behind and I made changes.
"We came out in the second half in a really good way, we were the team pushing for the win all second half.
"We were much more times in their box but weren't clinical enough in the final third. They scored the decisive goal.
"It's disappointing to lose the three points here. On a really lucky night we could have won this game. It's about taking lessons out of this.
"It's one of the better performances from this new squad but it was not good enough in the result, there's still a lot to work on.
"You can't say [the players] played a bad game today, but we need to work on things to make it better.
"Today Aberdeen were not the better team to win, it was a game both teams deserved a point each."
Image source, SNSAt half time of this game, former Ibrox striker Kris Boyd said on Sky Sports that "Aberdeen are everything Rangers aren't".
It is the type of punditry viewers have become accustomed to in Old Firm games during Celtic's dominance - the fact it is now being used in this context is damning for the Govan club.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked with Rangers nine points behind their city rivals. Michael Beale's side were seven adrift when the Englishman was removed from his post last year.
Philippe Clement's men find themselves nine behind both Celtic and Aberdeen.
The second-half response from Rangers shows the players are still with the Belgian, who would have left with a draw had James Tavernier diverted in his stoppage-time header.
But the weak defending that has plagued the past seven months of his tenure provided decisive again in another damaging defeat.
Image source, SNSJack Butland has urged Rangers to embrace the pressure at Pittodrie and deliver a much-needed victory over Aberdeen.
Philippe Clement's side head north in third place, six points adrift of the Dons and Celtic after nine games.
"I don't think anyone is satisfied where we sit, it's not where we want to be," goalkeeper Butland told Sky Sports.
"There's room to improve, there's lots of things going on, but as a squad we can't use them as excuses. We have to perform, and the only thing the fans want to see is a reaction.
"It's huge, every game is huge but there's plenty on this and there's no bigger occasion for us to come away with a really important three points.
"There's always some that carry a little bit more weight. As a player and as a team we need to embrace, we need to enjoy the experience and step up to the challenge.
"It's about winning the battle ultimately. They're going to make it tough for us, they're going to be physical. They're playing with a lot of confidence after a really positive start to the season. We're going to have to match that and go above that."
Image source, SNSAberdeen have only won one of their last 13 home games against Rangers in all competitions (D6 L6), a 2-0 league victory in April 2023.
Rangers have only lost two of their last 19 league meetings with Aberdeen (W12 D5), although both of those have come in their last five such clashes (W2 D1 L2).
Aberdeen won their last home league midweek match (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) 5-1 over Livingston in May, but haven't won back-to-back such fixtures since December 2018.
Rangers have won just two of their last nine away league games (D3 L4), and just one of their last six (D2 L3), beating Dundee United 1-0 in September.
Since the Scottish Premiership rebranded in 2013, Rangers' James Tavernier has more goals against Aberdeen (13) than any player has against a single club in the competition, with 11 of his 13 such strikes being penalties.
Jordan Campbell, football reporter with The Athletic, says victory is a must for Rangers and under-pressure manager Philippe Clement at Aberdeen tonight.
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