Philippe Clement pinpoints key traits behind Rangers' title resurgence

What is your overall take on the evening?

That it was a good performance after our first goal. I had some remarks which we talked about at half-time. It was a really good second half, a lot of domination and good play on the ball, not giving away too many chances against a good team. Hibs is a team which is really good on the ball, with building and with technical qualities. The first step was to play a really good game without the ball and to work really hard. That is what the boys did. We had more than 60 per cent ball possession which is not easy against Hibs because normally they have a lot of the ball because of their playing style. The second step was to do good things with the ball and make the right runs, to create space for ourselves and also to be cool with our finishes. I was really happy with that also, the three goals. For me it was four goals. One was disallowed and that was correct, I’ve seen it and it was a few centimetres offside, but it was also a good goal. There were good attacks and good saves from the goalkeeper also. The clean sheet was also important but we need to be honest. Jack also made a few good saves. We can’t say Hibs didn’t create chances. But after this evening everyone will say they saw a good Rangers team and good football. I think because of both teams it was a good advertisement for Scottish football. For everyone watching, whether you are a Hibs fan or a Rangers fan or you are supporting another team or you are from another country this is the sort of football you want to see.

Were you happy with performance on the first game after the break?

It is crucial. We have this marathon. One moment we need to stop because it’s the winter break, we had a good tempo and pace at that moment and we were winning a lot of points. Then you have to see how you come out of the winter break. It was a special challenge in Dumbarton because of the circumstances there. We need a reaction today also against a team who is good on the ball. You see that everyone is really involved and I think that is our biggest strength. All the guys who came in also had a good impact on the game. That has been our strength in the last couple of months, whoever is playing, in whatever position, they know what to do and they do everything for the team and they work really hard together. That is why we are getting much more points.

Is Todd Cantwell OK?

It’s too fast to assess that, but it looks okay for the moment and I hope tomorrow also. After that, he made a really good goal, but I didn’t want to take a risk with those things. Same with Nico. His foot was slipping. We thought it was because of the tape. We took the tape out and he had the same sensations. He cannot play on one foot. That’s why we made the changes. And the two players who came in had directly an impact on the game and that needs to be our strength the next couple of months.

How is Abdallah after his surgery?

The surgery went well. The surgeon was pleased with how it went. It went good. It will be between two or three months he will be out.

What are your thoughts on Jack Butland?

Yeah but it is about everybody. To be honest, after a game like this, I don’t even remember who scored the goals because for me it is not important who scores. It’s scoring as a team and it is the same with Jack. He makes the saves because the other guys will get red cards if they make saves with their hands! But, for example, John also made a really good save with his chest. That’s what we wanted to create a few months ago. To see a team all the time on the pitch and the guys are doing that now. I hope also after several victories they keep on understanding where it is coming from. It is not falling out of the sky. It is about a lot of effort, a lot of solidarity and not having too big an ego to play for yourself. So I am going to be really strict on that and to look at the team and making team decisions. I told them after training yesterday [Tuesday] they give me quite a headache for the moment to pick a starting 11. But it is a good thing. I hope they give me a lot of headaches the next couple of months.

Is your priority to add players to take it to the next level?

We need the squad to be competitive in three competitions. We need that but it doesn't mean that if a new player comes he is guaranteed to play. It is about showing that you are the best. I don’t care if someone is new, cost a lot of money or is 17 or 27 or has the biggest contract or the smallest contract in the team. It is what you show in the training and being part of the team and wanting to be part of the team.

Do you need more goals in the team?

We always need more goals. We can still improve that. We had a few chance when we can be more cool or have more overview but those are the steps to take as a squad. We are working on a lot of things every day. You see improvement with every player when I compare with three months ago. I don’t see one player who has lowered his level and this what we need to do with all staff together, all players together, to be hungry, to be ambitious, to become better. Then I will make decisions. Everybody shows themselves that they are hungry for the team, not for themselves, but for the team and give everything, they will get the chance to play. We have a lot of games.

Ridvan showed that he is focused despite the speculation?

Of course, otherwise he would never be on the pitch. If I see something else he will never be in the selection, that is clear. We can only work and win games with players who are involved with the club and give everything. Is that a guarantee that the player is here next week? That you never know. It is with every position on the field. As long as they are with Rangers, they need to give their best and I will give them chances. It is the transfer market and there are a lot of rumours. I have to say, a lot of wrong rumours. Much more wrong than right. I cannot go into detail because then I am talking all the time about rumours and I prefer to talk about football and my players to make them better.

Will Abdallah remain at the club and will you look at that position to strengthen?

First of all about Abda, those are things we will discuss with Brighton. That is the first step. Secondly, I don’t talk about positions or what we are going to do. I think everybody is getting bored of my answers after a few weeks but speak with the Belgian journalists and they had a few years like that every transfer market. It is the way it is. I cannot speak about those things.

Have those conversations with Brighton taken place?

We are talking about everything but not about all the details.