Rangers boss Philippe Clement on cup alert and says: I’m not busy with public enemies or things like that.
Philippe Clement understands the consequences of underestimating the cup underdogs. The manager of Rangers previously played for Racing Genk, who won the Belgian Cup on the same day they lost the Scottish Cup against Hearts.
Genk finished second in the league, albeit a long way behind champions Club Brugge, their opponents in the final. Brugge were heavy favourites to complete the double against Genk, who had never played a final at the national stadium previously.
It seemed like a formality. Instead, Clement and his teammates won 4-0, giving him his first professional trophy. This fond memory serves as a reminder that complacency can lead to a comeuppance, especially with Ayr United visiting Ibrox on Saturday evening.
“I was involved with a shock with a smaller team,” he said. “My first trophy was with Genk, against Club Brugge. I went to Genk when they were in the second division, and we earned promotion before finishing seventh the following year. We finished second the next season and won the Belgian Cup by defeating Brugge in the final, despite only being in the second level for two years.
“Brugge concluded the season as league champions, and everyone anticipated them to win the final as well. But we won 4–0. I remember the minor yet significant details. Before the game, there was a team photo. Brugge had just 11 players. But we took a photo with roughly 20 players, the entire crew, and everyone involved. That was the vibe and mood in our group. It was a pleasant excursion to get my first experience at the national stadium. So I understand what it’s like to be the underdog.
Clement also highlighted the shock cup loss suffered this week by another of his former clubs, Monaco, who were beaten by third-tier Rouen. Their manager does not want a similar stain on his record. “That’s why I spoke about Monaco as I know from experience how you can lose those kinds of games,” he added. “It’s about showing quality, mentality and respect.”
Scott Brown’s return to Ibrox as Ayr manager will be an intriguing subplot, but Clement was unwilling to give it further attention. “I’m not busy with public enemies or things like that,” he went on to say. “We are focused on our team, the game, playing excellent football, winning games in a positive manner, and qualifying. Every player in this round is four games away from capturing the trophy. It isn’t far. So we must concentrate on that rather than on everything else going on around us that has nothing to do with us.
Rangers are still avidly targeting a league title and Europa League victory, but the Scottish Cup remains just as vital to Clement as he strives to win consistently. “Every trophy we win this season will be extremely meaningful to us because the club has a rich history and numerous trophies. However, in recent years, it has become less regular. Everyone is trying incredibly hard to get back to the point where we are winning more frequently.”
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