Rangers can create magical night against Tottenham, says Clement / Photo: ANDY BUCHANAN - AFP/File
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Rangers can create magical night against Tottenham, says Clement
Rangers boss Philippe Clement is "convinced" his team can bridge the financial chasm with Tottenham in their Europa League clash on Thursday.
Although Tottenham travel to Ibrox in turmoil after just one win in their past seven matches in all competitions, the north London club's resources dwarf those of their Scottish opponents.
Clement knows Thursday's game is a "big challenge", but he insisted his team are used to big European nights and have what it takes to beat Tottenham.
"Everything can be bridged in one night," the Belgian said at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
"I'm getting old so I had luck and it's not only luck, it's also a lot of hard work as a player and as a manager several nights where the gap was amazingly big, and those are also the best nights if you then perform and you get the result.
"Those are also the results you remember for the rest of your life."
Rangers are well behind Glasgow rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, but have 10 points from five European fixtures -- the same as Tottenham -- and remain on course for a place in the knockout stages.
And Clement, whose team face Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday, said money is not the only factor at play when the Ibrox club meet teams with Tottenham's financial muscle.
"It's also about work and what players do together, otherwise it would be easy and every team that has more money, they win every time," he said.
"That's not the case but the others need to work more and that's what we need to do tomorrow evening."
Clement claimed Tottenham's current woes -- they have slipped to 11th in the Premier League -- would not impact his thinking as he prepares for the vital showdown.
"It's how you see things," he said. "A few weeks ago I saw them play against Manchester City and they were not in such a bad place at that moment (a 4-0 win) so it's Premier League, it's the highest level in the world in that way and things are really close together so you can lose points there. I think it's a really good team."
Clement sidestepped a question on whether the tie would have added spice given Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou's former job as manager of Celtic.
"I don't know. I only wish that the fans are behind the players to push them.... It's all about us, we're focused on ourselves," he said.
E.Mariensen--HHA
