FORMER Rangers manager Philippe Clement has singled out two of his players at Ibrox for criticism.
The Belgian was sacked in February about which he’s since said more patience was required from the board.
4
4
4
He was replaced by Barry Ferguson in the interim and then last week the permanent role was handed to Russell Martin.
Looking back on his time, Clement has suggested some of his player’s heads and hearts weren’t in it towards the end.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “There are some stories if you look back. Indeed, in the first season nobody in Scotland expected Rangers to come back in be in a title race when we arrived in October.
“The players did it but in the end we lost the game at Ross County and three days later dropped points at Dundee.
Read more football stories
“If I look back, two players who were not good in those two games they left at the end of the season on a free transfer.
“They were at that moment busy also talking with other teams with their agents, about their future and all those things.
“Probably, and maybe, it had an affect on them. Did they not want to become Rangers? For sure not. They wanted to become champions and give everything.
“But the situation to be at the end of the contract at that moment of the season was also not a good one.
“You need to see as a club that it’s about stability and consistency that you don’t come in these situations too much in the important moments of the season.
“You want everything to be clear so players can focus solely on football and I think it played a part in that end of the season in those two games where the shift was made in the championship.”
Given the timing it would appear the Gers in question are John Lundstram and Borna Barasic, who both switched to Turkish side Trabzonspor at the end of their deals last year.
Both were mostly left out of the Scottish Cup final against Celtic that season barring a late cameo for the English midfielder.
He continued: “It’s a pity we couldn’t win the championship coming out of a situation where nobody thought we could win it.
“[My] most proud [moment] – because all that matters is winning things – would be winning the League cup and biggest regret would be being close for the title in that first season and not getting it over the line, and also the two cup finals where were very close.”
The 23-24 Rangers side finished the league campaign eight points behind their bitter rivals.
4
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
