Rangers players have lost all of the credit they built with the fans in recent weeks after suffering one of the worst Scottish Cup defeats in the club’s history, says manager Phillipe Clement.
The Ibrox side were on a run of six wins in seven – the only defeat coming at Old Trafford in the Europa League – but they were humiliatingly ejected from the cup by their second tier Glasgow neighbours.
Seb Drozd’s 69th-minute strike gave the visitors the lead but it seemed Rangers would equalise when they were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.
However, Calum Ferrie pulled off a magnificent save to thwart James Tavernier and unleash a torrent of boos around Ibrox.
“They built back credit with the fans in the last weeks and months. Today, they lost everything,” Clement said.
“They are right to be angry. I’m angry. It’s unacceptable and the players know that.
“There were too many emotions in the second half. It was too rushed from the team to score and there was less composure than the past few months.”
Defeat – combined with Rangers trailing Celtic by 13 points in the league – means only winning the Europa League would prevent another season without a trophy.
Clement refused to dwell upon that afterwards – “it’s happened several times in the past” – and also insisted he remains confident about his future at the club.
“Results like this are frustrating, but the only way for this club to build something is to keep consistency,” the Belgian said.
“Last week, everyone was saying the team is taking good steps and growing. Today was nothing to do with tactics. It’s about the quality of the moment.
“I won’t take conclusions from all season from one moment. We wanted it too much and because of that there was no composure.”
‘Noise will be loud for Clement to go’ – the pundits’ view
Former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson: “I’ve heard too many excuses.
“If the manager is angry, you can imagine how the fans will be feeling tonight. They’re devastated, but I want to hear players devastated. I didn’t see that.
“It’s as if it didn’t mean enough to the players. Maybe they think because they got to the last 16 of the Europa League that it’s fine and they’re done. It’s not. That’s the job of a manager to keep them motivated.
“This is why Clement comes under serious threat to losing his job. He’s got to win games like this with the quality that the manager has got at his disposal.”
Former Rangers midfielder Ian McCall: “Every time Clement comes under pressure they end up doing something really good.
“The European results were calming, and you see some progress with two or three players who could work for the player trading model.
“But this type of result when you’re sitting 13 points behind your main rivals for the title is not good enough.
“He’s got to be under serious pressure now. I never call for anyone to get the bullet but the noise will be the loudest its ever been tomorrow morning.
“Too many of the Rangers players felt like they had to just had to turn up today.”
Have your say
Rangers fans, what are your thoughts on the abject Scottish Cup exit?
Is the defeat unforgivable for Philippe Clement? Or is it just a bump in a long journey?
Have your say here
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