Rangers boss Philippe Clement on their impressive 2-2 draw at Benfica in UEFA Europa League last 16 first leg
Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon, Portugal
Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon, Portugal
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00:18 -Philippe, how proud are you of the performance the players put in and the result you got here?
00:23 -I'm really proud about the performance.
00:27 The result, yeah, that stays a difficult one.
00:31 I think we were really close by making this miracle,
00:36 by winning here as the first team ever in the Europa League against them.
00:40 So, yeah, it's a pity to get a penalty like that against.
00:45 It's really an unlucky situation.
00:47 This ball drops.
00:49 John don't see where the ball drops and it drops on his arm.
00:53 So that's very unlucky and then the own goal also.
00:57 So, we were really close.
01:00 We had also an opportunity, I think, or two with Fabio and Cyril to make the 1-3.
01:08 Would have changed also a lot in this game.
01:11 But I'm really, really proud about my team.
01:14 They showed character, they showed solidarity, they showed personality.
01:20 Also with the ball, we scored two really good goals with good football.
01:25 So, I'm really somebody who's demanding towards them,
01:30 but I cannot ask more than what they gave today.
01:33 They gave their all, everything.
01:36 Also the guys who came in.
01:39 We missed a lot of players in the offensive positions,
01:42 so other players had to do the job.
01:44 I'm very happy also with Fabio and Dujon doing that role really good in this game.
01:49 So, we need to continue like this.
01:52 If they keep this mentality, what they've been showing the last couple of months,
01:56 then it can be an amazing season.
01:58 The mentality they showed to respond to the penalty that you described
02:03 and the way they did it quickly,
02:05 that must give you a lot of heart and confidence going forward.
02:08 Yeah, we talked about that a lot in October, November.
02:12 About those situations and how to come through it in a good way
02:17 and to do it much better than they did before.
02:20 They're totally in the story now.
02:22 They understand that you cannot give away these one or two minutes of regret.
02:28 It's about the next action and to be ready and to believe in ourselves,
02:33 in yourself and in your teammates.
02:35 That's what they've been doing now the last couple of months.
02:38 That's why also when we go behind or when we get goals against,
02:42 we continue playing and we took a lot of points in other competitions.
02:48 So, yeah, I see the mentality that I want to see.
02:53 I see also good quality on the ball to score two goals like that
02:57 against a good team like Benfica and having a few other good opportunities.
03:02 So, I'm very happy with what my team have shown with and without the ball today.
03:08 Do you feel you now have the advantage in the tie going back to Ibrox?
03:12 Do you know what that stadium can do for your team?
03:15 It's not an advantage, I think.
03:18 It's an advantage that it's at Ibrox because our fans,
03:23 if they're on top of it from the first second until the last second,
03:26 they can give a lot of energy to the team.
03:29 But we stay realistic about the qualities of Benfica.
03:33 When you guys wrote this week about the difference in transfer budget,
03:38 that's the reality.
03:40 So, if we can eliminate this team, I think it would be a huge, huge thing.
03:46 I can only ask for my players to give their best
03:50 and to show what they've shown today and again on Thursday.
03:53 Philip, did you have any issues with the penalty decision for that?
03:56 It seemed very harsh.
03:58 Yeah, it's very harsh, yeah.
04:02 I said it already a few times,
04:05 I don't agree with where the game has gone to with the handball situation,
04:12 but those are the rules.
04:14 I had more problems with the last couple of weeks, some situations.
04:18 This one, with the rules, how they are now, you can give.
04:23 But as somebody who loves football, I have difficulty with those rules.
04:30 Like all the managers, I think, and all the players.
04:33 That it's too harsh now,
04:35 that a ball that's clearly not intended to go against your arm,
04:40 the moment it touches you, it's a penalty.
04:42 And too many games all over the world are decided in that way also,
04:48 with these handballs and this penalty situation.
04:51 But those are the rules we need to accept.
04:53 I'm not from UEFA or FIFA, so that's not my job.
04:57 Maybe after the job as manager I can do something like that,
05:01 to make the game a little bit more simple again,
05:05 for referees also, because for them it's also a difficult job now.
05:11 Good evening, coach.
05:22 Fábio Silva was involved in the two goals of the Rangers.
05:25 How did the Portuguese get involved in the Rangers' tactical plan for this game?
05:29 And I would also like to ask you a more in-depth comment on your performance.
05:32 Thank you.
05:34 How much time do you have for details?
05:36 Because then it can take a little bit of time.
05:39 No, Fábio is growing.
05:42 He's still a young player, 21.
05:44 We had a lot of talks before he came to the Rangers about his role
05:48 or the roles he could play.
05:50 So we talked about a striker playing on the left side
05:54 or even around the striker, so he can do all these roles.
05:58 And that he showed today.
05:59 And you see that he's integrated really fast into the squad.
06:05 He feels really good in the club.
06:07 He plays with a smile.
06:08 He gives a lot of energy to the team.
06:10 He has his qualities.
06:12 He's taking more and more control of his emotions.
06:16 We talked a lot about that.
06:18 That it's the next step to take.
06:20 And I'm really happy about that today.
06:23 Because if you look at the team,
06:26 I'm happy about that today.
06:29 Because it was a hostile situation.
06:32 A lot of attention towards him.
06:34 But he played for the team.
06:35 Not to show everybody that he's a good player.
06:38 He played to be a good player for the Rangers.
06:40 And that's important for me.
06:41 Questions for the Hibernian game?
06:44 Andrew?
06:45 Philippe, are Hibs a different side that you're coming up against?
06:53 They've made a few January signings.
06:55 Are you expecting them to be different from the last time you faced them?
06:58 Yeah, they can be different.
07:01 We are also different.
07:03 So we're going to take a good look into that.
07:07 We're going to see how people recover for the next two days.
07:13 And we're going to go hard to get into the semi-final.
07:17 Because it's an important thing.
07:20 I've read that they were really unlucky in the last two games against us.
07:26 I read.
07:27 So they have a lot of belief, clearly.
07:29 So it's about us getting a good result there.
07:34 And qualifying.
07:37 Are you confident that the players will be able to focus firmly on the Hibs game?
07:41 Yeah, 200%.
07:43 No doubt about that.
07:45 My team have been working hard all season in that way.
07:49 And they never stopped.
07:51 Good proof was also after the Betis game.
07:54 A few days later we had the League Cup final and they were there.
07:59 So, no.
08:01 My team is hungry to win more trophies.
08:04 And we know we need to play against Hibs.
08:08 A really good game.
08:10 Because they're really hungry to beat us, apparently.
08:13 Anyone? All good?
08:16 Happy, guys?
08:17 Okay, thank you.
08:19 Thank you.