There is a time to celebrate and a time to concentrate. Each one of Philippe Clement’s successes has given him an insight into how to handle the next one.

Rangers supporters saw a different side to the Belgian on Sunday. His tenure has been built on hard work, discipline and clear messages but Clement was briefly caught up in the emotion in the aftermath of Viaplay Cup victory. He had the time, and Hampden was certainly the place. A couple of hours later, the party restarted at Ibrox.

This was the most carefree that Clement has been during his tenure as he soaked up the adulation from the crowds and toasted the achievement with his players. They were moments that Rangers have waited too long to cherish and will be ones that will live long in the memory as the trophy was held aloft against a backdrop of red, white and blue scarves and flags while songs and fireworks filled the air.

Clement did not set out to curtail the fun, but the 49-year-old knows better than most that the hard work had to start again soon. Rangers returned to Auchenhowie on Monday as preparations for the visit of St Johnstone started. It was a sacrifice that had to be made.

This is not the first time that Clement has tasted success in his career, either as a player or a manager. He declined to go into details when asked about how he had celebrated previously. It was evident, though, that he would have stressed the importance of marking the occasion to his players before emphasising the need to regroup and refocus.

“I did some crazy things when we became champions in the past,” Clement said. “And I had the bad luck - there were videos made! So don’t use it against me now! 

READ MORE: The one Rangers vs Aberdeen call Philippe Clement got wrong

“No, I am really happy for the players and of course I had a drink with them on Sunday evening, and with my family also, but in the back of my mind it is Wednesday already. That is who I am. But I wanted to enjoy Sunday evening because I did not do that enough during my career, as a player first and then as a manager also. I am learning these things, to enjoy these moments. But the most I am happy for is everybody around me.”

Clement was never going to deny his squad or his staff the opportunity to enjoy themselves on Sunday evening. There is, after all, no point in putting in the hard graft and then not being able to reflect and rejoice when all the efforts pay off.

The former Genk and Club Brugge manager knows, however, that one medal is never going to be enough at Ibrox and lifting the League Cup is not why he was appointed as Michael Beale’s replacement in the dugout. It is sustained success that Rangers must now target and the coming weeks could go some way to defining their Premiership ambitions after the Old Firm landscape changed in their favour.

READ MORE: Todd Cantwell details Philippe Clement chat ahead of Rangers triumph

“It’s like that,” Clement said. “But that’s good. Winning this trophy needed to create even more hungry to become better. The top athletes are the ones like that, who don’t stay satisfied. They confirm and confirm and confirm. You have the top athletes in different sports and in football also who played 10-15 years at the top level and have been the best in the world because they have this internal ambition. That is what I want to see in the dressing room.”

Clement spoke about the title race being like a marathon in comparison to the two sprint finishes in Seville and at Hampden last week. If Rangers are to have another medal around their necks, he needs his players to maintain their pace over the course and distance of the league campaign.

Some have that experience already and several heroes of the 55 triumph, including captain James Tavernier, now have a full set of Scottish gongs to their credit. Those that have none or just their medal from the weekend still have much to prove and Clement will learn plenty about the group he has inherited during a run of league fixtures that includes a decisive trip to Parkhead.

“We will see,” Clement said. “I will look into their eyes and see how they are around the club and how they are in training. But I have a good feeling around that. They have confirmed it already several times in the last couple of weeks. It is not a new thing.

READ MORE: Philippe Clement pinpoints key John Lundstram quality in Rangers rise

“And even on Sunday, after the historical win in Seville, and with all the travelling and everything, giving a performance like that with all the travelling, being dominant and creating the best chances and staying focused for 90 minutes. It’s already a big thing. I do not have doubts it will be different in the next weeks.”

By the time Rangers have left Parkhead in a fortnight, their title aspirations will be clearer. Celtic’s recent stumbles have opened the door for Clement’s side and the momentum is all with Rangers heading into a run that also includes fixtures with Motherwell, Ross County and Kilmarnock before the winter break.

A support that was disheartened and disillusioned now have a renewed sense of belief in those on the park. That has been forged by their admiration for the man on the touchline and Clement can now harness that feelgood factor to ensure Rangers are potential champions rather than forlorn challengers this term.

“Yes, but I had the feeling the fans believed from the first day,” Clement said. “I never had a different feeling about that. I know we are going to bring back the title, we will try to do it as fast as possible. It is a big marathon. It is hard work. But I know what the road is to take with this club. This was also one of the reasons to come. One moment we will take it, because we will work really hard for that.

“But we have no control about how other teams are performing. Winning titles is winning marathons. I won a few marathons together with other teams, with other staffs, with other player groups so I know how to get there. And we will go hard for that. But of course there are also opponents with a lot of qualities.”