Manager Philippe Clement has been discussing pre-season, academy players and transfer strategy with RangersTV as their Netherlands-based training camp ends.
Here’s the best of what the Ibrox boss said:
On pre-season aims…
“You always want to win, we are all winners but it’s pre-season. It’s about giving everybody chances and also building up playing minutes.
“Players are not ready to play 90 minutes and do all the training, so the most important thing is that the team is growing and the squad is growing with every game.”
On summer exits and arrivals…
“There are several older players who left the club who were not at their peak any more – like Jon McLaughlin, Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack – and they’re replaced already by young talented people.
“There are some who are more longer term like Clinton Nsiala, he will not be ready from the start. You have others who can step in directly who will grow and become better like Connor Barron and Jefte. “
On academy players’ chances…
“We want to give them chances to make the step up from academy to first team, step by step.”
On future transfer plans…
“We’ve been looking at a lot of players, had a lot of talks, some deals we could do, some we could not. Everybody is working hard on that.
“We’re not where we want to be at the end of the August but I don’t think that’s the case for any team in the world.
“We work hard with the players who are in the building to be ready for the first game and then we will see. I know for fans you think everything is possible at the moment but that’s not the reality.
“I think the most important thing is that everybody is aligned about the plans, the board, the recruitment staff, me. Not only short term but also long term.”
Philippe Clement,academy players,pre-season,Borna Barisic
