The party’s over but for Philippe Clement it’s only just beginning. The Rangers manager let his players off the leash on Sunday night as they celebrated their Viaplay Cup Final triumph with their nearest and dearest at Edmiston House.
And, yes, this tall, quiet and intense man joined in the fun and games. But yesterday, as he gathered his squad around him to begin preparations for St Johnstone’s visit to Ibrox tomorrow night, Clement looked into the bleary eyes of the players who had delivered a trophy just 64 days into his tenure.
He didn’t want to see a look of satisfaction, a self-congratulatory glint. What the Belgian was looking for was a hunger, a flash of determination that told him his players are not prepared to settle for just one trophy.
A run of 14 unbeaten games in all competitions since his arrival in October has now seen a piece of silverware that has been missing from Ibrox for 12 years returned to Govan.