In vivid echoes of Giovanni van Bronckhorst post-match following how Rangers were badly demolished by an abysmal Ajax side in Holland, Philippe Clement is whining that he can’t win with the team he has, and he needs better players.
Of course, we all know this, but the comments are exactly the same as Gio’s, similar to Steven Gerrard’s as well, when both managers dumped bad results on the players we had and how we couldn’t compete at ‘this level’.
Clement said:
“We need extra bodies and extra quality. To be successful. I always believe that with your squad you can succeed, because otherwise, you cannot get results against Real Madrid with a team like Brugge. Everyone said that was impossible. But if you don’t believe it is possible, it will never happen.”
We’ve already quoted that comment, but now it’s in the light of demanding better players.
He went on:
“We’ve been working hard for that kind of mindset in all the players who have come in. We want them all ambitious to become better and with all the staff together we can give them the tools to become better. So in that way, I believe that with whatever squad we have at that moment will have the ability to qualify. But everybody needs to be at their top and the more quality you have, the better your chance.”
So one minute ago it’s about getting better players, now he claims that whatever squad he has will be good enough.
Is there any wonder we barely trust a word this guy says? We’ve seen weather change less frequently than his views.
As for Gio:
“If you look at all the squads you are facing now – Ajax and Liverpool. For us to compete with them it’s too much to ask. We want to compete but we want to compete with the squad we have and are able and capable in making. We knew it was going to be tough and that showed today.”
Gerrard:
“Over the two legs we haven’t deserved to qualify and the realistic opinion from me is maybe we’re not ready. Are we ready for PSG, Chelsea and Man City to come to Ibrox? Maybe not.”
So it’s all the same rhetoric, from the last three serious managers.
Rangers aren’t getting the players they need to compete in the Champions League, and that’s now three managers recently complaining about it.
Great stuff.