Philippe Clement admits Rangers have still got a job on their hands to reach the Europa League knock-outs after their Old Trafford heartbreak.
The Belgian’s brave side looked to have snatched a precious point at the Theatre of Dreams after Cyriel Dessers equalised with just two minutes remaining. But it was ripped away when Man United skipper Bruno Fernandes fired a stoppage-time winner just moments later to follow up on Jack Butland’s calamitous OG opener.
The result leaves Gers sitting 13th in the league phase table - three points outside of the top eight slots for a bye through to the last 16. As things stand, they are well placed to reach next month’s play-off rounds but Clement admits the required top 24 finish is not sealed yet. The Ibrox boss - whose side finish their league campaign against compatriots Union Saint-Gilloise next week - said: “To get in top eight we need to do a big effort against Union and we need luck with the other results.
“To be in top 24, which was the ambition before starting, that we are very close to - but not there yet. So it's about focusing on getting points against Union and doing the things we have to do for this club and to be ambitious in every game to go full for the victory.”
It was United who got the win last night but Clement couldn’t hide the pride he felt for his players, especially kids Bailey Rice and Curtis Findlay who were flung in as Leon Balogun, Connor Barron and Vaclav Cerny became his latest injury concerns.
He said: “I just spoke to everybody in the dressing room, they’re disappointed that we lost after playing that kind of game. I'm very proud of what the team did today.
“They stuck to the plan, followed the tactics all the way, even with really young players coming
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