‘We should have won’ – Rangers boss Philippe Clement NOT happy with Europa point vs Tottenham as he gives Souttar update
PHILIPPE CLEMENT insists Rangers should have won the Battle of Britain against Tottenham. Dejan Kulusevski cancelled out Hamza Igamane’s opener as Gers went toe to toe with Ange Postecoglou’s Premier League side. PARangers’ Cyriel Dessers reacts after a missed opportunity during the Europa League clash[/caption] EPARangers manager Philippe Clement (L) and Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou before the match[/caption] But Cyriel Dessers could have won it late on – only to be denied by ex-Celtic keeper Fraser Forster. Clement said: “We should have won the game – we deserved three points. “But it’s a very good advert for Scottish football and for Rangers that we can compete against a top English team who were almost at full strength. “Everybody showed a lot of quality. The players took the challenge with both hands and grabbed it. “We are disappointed to draw but this is what Rangers is about – we want this mentality in our squad. “We weren’t satisfied with a point and we need to keep the hunger and desire to get better. “This is a big step forward and we need to keep pushing to become better as players. “We had good chances in the first half too but we were not happy with a 0-0. “We didn’t want to park the bus and hope something falls from the sky. “It was a great goal from Hamza and he is making major steps forward. “He has come a long way in a few months and he has so much desire to improve. “If you show that, you can come a long way in a short space of time.” Gers suffered a blow when John Souttar limped off – with the defender now a major doubt for Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final against Celtic. Clement said: “I don’t know about John yet but it’s never good when you have to come off. We will see over the next few days. “This is a good platform for Sunday and you can see the synergy is back with the fans. “It’s a massive final against Celtic and we are all looking forward to that.” Rangers’ opener arrived two minutes into the second half when Igamane volleyed in James Tavernier’s cross. Spurs were rocking but Postecoglou’s changes made an impact – with Dominic Solanke teeing up Kulusevski for the equaliser. But Gers could have won it at the death, only for Forster to deny sub Dessers with a stunning save. Postecoglou said: “It was a tough game as I expected and you have to deal with the crowd and atmosphere. “We had a mountain to climb at 1-0 down as the fans get behind them, but we worked our way back into the game and scored. “Then we had to rely on Fraser making a big save and that was a big point for the European campaign. “We are in a bit of a struggle just now and we are down on numbers, which takes its toll. “But we hung in there and I think we will look back on this as an important point.” Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
PHILIPPE CLEMENT insists Rangers should have won the Battle of Britain against Tottenham.
Dejan Kulusevski cancelled out Hamza Igamane’s opener as Gers went toe to toe with Ange Postecoglou’s Premier League side.
Rangers’ Cyriel Dessers reacts after a missed opportunity during the Europa League clash[/caption] Rangers manager Philippe Clement (L) and Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou before the match[/caption]But Cyriel Dessers could have won it late on – only to be denied by ex-Celtic keeper Fraser Forster.
Clement said: “We should have won the game – we deserved three points.
“But it’s a very good advert for Scottish football and for Rangers that we can compete against a top English team who were almost at full strength.
“Everybody showed a lot of quality. The players took the challenge with both hands and grabbed it.
“We are disappointed to draw but this is what Rangers is about – we want this mentality in our squad.
“We weren’t satisfied with a point and we need to keep the hunger and desire to get better.
“This is a big step forward and we need to keep pushing to become better as players.
“We had good chances in the first half too but we were not happy with a 0-0.
“We didn’t want to park the bus and hope something falls from the sky.
“It was a great goal from Hamza and he is making major steps forward.
“He has come a long way in a few months and he has so much desire to improve.
“If you show that, you can come a long way in a short space of time.”
Gers suffered a blow when John Souttar limped off – with the defender now a major doubt for Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final against Celtic.
Clement said: “I don’t know about John yet but it’s never good when you have to come off. We will see over the next few days.
“This is a good platform for Sunday and you can see the synergy is back with the fans.
“It’s a massive final against Celtic and we are all looking forward to that.”
Rangers’ opener arrived two minutes into the second half when Igamane volleyed in James Tavernier’s cross.
Spurs were rocking but Postecoglou’s changes made an impact – with Dominic Solanke teeing up Kulusevski for the equaliser.
But Gers could have won it at the death, only for Forster to deny sub Dessers with a stunning save.
Postecoglou said: “It was a tough game as I expected and you have to deal with the crowd and atmosphere.
“We had a mountain to climb at 1-0 down as the fans get behind them, but we worked our way back into the game and scored.
“Then we had to rely on Fraser making a big save and that was a big point for the European campaign.
“We are in a bit of a struggle just now and we are down on numbers, which takes its toll.
“But we hung in there and I think we will look back on this as an important point.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page