Philippe Clement reveals Rangers board message he told them he could never work to as boss makes restaurant quip

A look of surprise spread across Philippe Clement’s face as one of bigwigs at the top of the marble staircase made the suggestion that silverware at home should come as a priority for Rangers over success abroad.

But the Ibrox boss’ response remains the same now as it was back in December - why not go for both? Three months on and there’s a fresh narrative being shared amongst a section of the Ibrox faithful that Thursday's Europa League last 16 clash with Benfica is a distraction Clement’s Premiership pace-setters could do without. With a slender two-point lead over Celtic and a mounting injury list, the argument put forward is that the glamour continental double-header with the Portuguese giants risks placing all the hard work Gers have put in back home to salvage their season in jeopardy.

It’s similar to the theory put to the Belgian just before Christmas when his side faced another massive week with a do-or-die Euro clash against Real Betis just three days before their Viaplay Cup final showdown with Aberdeen at Hampden. It got the short shrift both then and now. The Ibox gaffer said: "There was some people on the board who told me that before our European game that it was maybe more important that we won the League Cup.

“And I told them I never work that way. I want players who are hungry for every occasion and who want to win every occasion.

“It doesn’t work like that, it’s not like a menu in a restaurant that you pick out here I’m going to perform and there I’m not. Like that you don’t create a winning culture. So, okay, it’s a busy schedule, that’s true. But it’s about us working really hard with the players and the staff to get the players ready and also the players themselves showing that they are ready for