Rangers are gearing up for a demanding six-week schedule that includes travels to Celtic, Hearts, and Hibs.
Any notion that Aberdeen gives Rangers a harder game than they do any other has been shot down by Philippe Clement.
After Celtic defeated Barry Robson’s team 6-0 before the international break, former Ibrox hero Kris Boyd made the suggestion that this was the fact.
Clement disputes that idea, stating he finds it hard to see any squad being more driven for a single game than the others.
He does, however, anticipate that Aberdeen will fight to prove they are better than their Celtic performance, which he calls “not one of their best days.”
The reign of former manager Michael Beale ended in September following a 3-1 loss to Sunday’s opponents in Glasgow.
Clement claims that won’t affect his strategy for the game, though.
“Every game has its own story, the past is the past, there are other players available now on both sides, it’s an away game, so that’s not an advantage in that way, we need to focus on ourselves,” he stated.
“My preparation for this game would not have changed even if we had won the previous game 6-0.
“We don’t have an advantage because, after a game like that, you always have a team that wants to react and players that want to react to show they are better, and they are better; they’ve shown this over the last couple of months.” Aberdeen’s most recent game wasn’t their greatest day.
“I cannot look back over the last months or last years how games where, but I don’t believe in those things to be honest. I cannot believe that players are more motivated for one game than another, for sure not anywhere where I am a manager because the story would be very short for those players if they are not motivated for every game,” he said when directly questioned about Boyd’s and some Ibrox supporters’ suggestion that Aberdeen will be more motivated for their side’s visit.
“I don’t care about or pay attention to anything else; my players and their tasks are what matter.”
“We must focus on ourselves and do our own thing. I want players to be there for every game, and I expect other teams to do the same.”
The first of 12 games in the next 37 days, which also include travels to Easter Road, Tynecastle, Celtic Park, and Hampden for the League Cup Final, will see Rangers visit Pittodrie to play the Dons on Sunday.
And the Belgian acknowledges that if they want to maintain his perfect record in the league come January, they will need to perform at the highest level.
He does, however, claim that they would just focus on their upcoming match against Aberdeen, who had defeated Rangers in their previous two encounters.
There is no other option if we wish to maintain the current results for the next 12 games in 37 days; we must move up. Plus, that’s what I desire. Players who are content and believe that’s their ultimate level are not what I’m looking for.
“I think this group can still grow a lot as a team and as individuals with a lot of work and concentration, and that’s what they need to show now over these next few weeks.”
“It’s going to be game by game, I hope we can win all 12 games, that is my goal every time. I hope we can win the next 40 games because I want to win every time. But up until now in my career I have been disappointed as it never works out like that.
“It will be game by game; my constant goal is for us to win all 12 games. I want to win every time, therefore I’m hoping we can win the next forty games. However, I have been dissatisfied with my profession thus far because things seldom turn out that way.
I am aware that there will be obstacles along the path, but Aberdeen needs to come first. I want the players to concentrate solely on the next game.
