Philippe Clement comes out fighting as Rangers boss admits even his WIFE is putting pressure on for wins

Philippe Clement could be forgiven for hiding in a West End bunker given the fire and flak that’s flying in his direction right now.

The Rangers boss has had high-pressure jobs before in Belgium. But nothing will compare to this. Clement is under the cosh. Not only are his side light years behind Glasgow rivals Celtic. They’re now also trailing arch enemies Aberdeen by nine points at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Clement will have heard some - if not all - of the criticism. In this city, it would be impossible not to. But at his Auchenhowie press conference on Friday, the 50-year-old came out fighting.

If only his players showed a bit of that on the pitch, they might not find themselves in this predicament. Clement is not about to buckle under the strain, irrespective of how apoplectic with rage some Rangers fans are. For the most part, he tries to ignore the snipers. But he admits that even his wife at home would prefer him to start winning a few more games.

Ahead of Sunday's crucial Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Motherwell, he vowed to take the weight of expectation at Rangers on his shoulders. But Clement also admitted that he openly leans on the people closest to him - to add some perspective.

Ahead of his must-win visit to Hampden, the Rangers gaffer said: “How do I deal with the criticism and scrutiny? Listen, it’s part of my life and part of football. It’s difficult as a manager when you cannot explain everything (to supporters). It’s not good - but it’s part of my life now.

“In the short-term, I believe we can turn things around here and that it can be a successful season. I really believe that. But I never switch off from it. That’s never the case.

“Never in my life have I switched off. I don’t