Philippe Clement declares Champions League is NOT just about Rangers cash

August 13, 2024 philip FOOTBALL 0

Philippe Clement insists Rangers’ Champions League bid is as much about prestige as pound notes.

The Ibrox boss doesn’t shy away from the huge importance of the potential group-stage jackpot in terms of his future rebuilding plans. But, as he says himself, he’s not an accountant. Whilst fully aware of the significance of pouring almost £40 million into the coffers, Clement’s a football man. With that in mind, the Champions League symbolises the elite.

Cut-throat and ruthless as it may be, it’s the craved destination for those on the park as well as in the boardroom. Clement doesn’t hide the fact as he said: “As a player as a manager it is about competing with the best. That is why I always like to be in the Champions League, as a player or a manager, it is the nicest place to be. It is also the most challenging place for your players because they can compete against the best and all the spotlight of the world is on them. So that is the main thing. As a club you need to look at both.

“You need to look at the exposure and the tradition and want to be there, but finance is really important in football and I think this club knows this really well after what happened 12 years ago. So is it is a really important thing to keep a good balance in those things and not make silly fouls that you come into trouble.

“The club is very conscious about that, I know that and together we want to create a really good story, a strong story for the future. But it is not a story you can write in three or four weeks so we are working hard on that. The Champions League can help to make the story go faster.”

Of course, every penny counts. There’s almost £4 million on offer for defeating Dynamo Kyiv and moving into the Play-off Round.

“But I said last time also that I’m not an accountant here at the club. I am not the one who says: Okay we spend £200,000 here and we get £100,000 there.

“We had really clear talks and a clear plan before we entered the transfer window. Other people decide where to spend the money.

“Of course I give my priorities, but I focus on the team, the staff and making everything really good here with the players available. We will see if other names come up that we will get with qualities and make choices that way.”