Inside the 'really down' Rangers camp after Champions League heartbreak as Clement channels Man Utd to inspire fightback
With everything going on around him right now, you’d expect Netflix and chill would be the last thing on frazzled Philippe Clement’s mind.
But having watched through the cracks in his fingers as Rangers’ Champions League horror show played out at Hampden on Tuesday night, the Ibrox boss couldn’t help but let thoughts drift back to a flick he’d recently tuned into on streaming rivals Amazon Prime. Manchester United documentary 99 tells the story of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side and their remarkable Treble-winning campaign.
A season that started with the Old Trafford giants having their pants pulled down by Arsenal at Wembley ended with the Red Devils crowned champions of England and Europe. It’s a tale Clement is looking to for inspiration as he looks to get his own team back on track after missing out on this week’s £40million UEFA jackpot.
Of course, the Ibrox manager can’t call on characters with the power and strength of Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel and David Beckham. But he has no other choice than believe the cast he does have at his disposal are capable of mounting a plot twist of their own. Asked to sum up the mood of his dejected Gers camp after their disastrous Dynamo Kyiv defeat, Clement said: “Yeah, they were really down after the game and the day after, but it's part of the story in football.
“You have moments like this and it's even worse when you play a really bad game and you go out. That was not the case. I don't want to go into the circumstances again but it was clear for everybody. I get so many messages from all over the world about (Jefte’s) red card.
“That's done now, it’s finished. My responsibility, and for sure the players also, is to react in the next game and to win that one. A few months ago I saw