If they ask us to play on Mars we’ll catch a flight to bag three points
GERS BOSS WILL GO EXTRA MILE TO GET DUNDEE MATCH PLAYED
PHILIPPE CLEMENT says Rangers will play behind closed doors if that’s what it takes to get the twice postponed clash with Dundee out the way.
The Ibrox boss joked his players would catch a flight to Mars if told to play there for three precious points as the title race hits top gear.
But he was deadly serious when he said the Dens chaos had cast a bad image on the Scottish game.
Clement revealed Rangers had an offer to play Wednesday’s clash 24 hours later turned down and insists they are now at a disadvantage ahead of their Scottish Cup semi final with Hearts next weekend.
The Ibrox side will now prepare to head to Tayside for a third attempt to play the cursed fixture next week – and Clement says they have been told they will find out by noon on Tuesday whether it’s to be moved to a different venue.
At such a late stage that could involve going ahead without the backing of the huge travelling light blues loyal.
And the Belgian said: “If that’s the decision then we will play behind closed doors. If they ask us to play on Mars then we take the flight to win the three points.
“That’s our mindset of the whole group. Of me and all my players. That is a disadvantage, of course. But it is what it is.
“We need to adapt. Like when it was Covid, we didn’t like it also.
“But our mindset is that whatever decisions are made we go to win games. That is the mindset. No excuses around that.
“The last thing that I hear now, the last information that I got, is that we will know Tuesday at 12 o’clock at the latest where we are going to play on Wednesday.
“Normally in Dundee. If it is not possible it will need to be somewhere else.
“That we know now Tuesday at 12 o’clock before we travel, we know what is going to happen. We need to make several plans. I hope we know a few days before where the other venue will be to organise things.”
Clement revealed Rangers were prepared to hold back 24 hours in Tayside to get the fixture played.
He said: “We were even prepared to play today [Thursday], so short ahead of the Ross County game. We offered that option but it was not accepted. So it will be next week but we saw yesterday morning, it was possible to play but in a few hours it was impossible.
“Who’s going to guarantee that it’s not going to rain next week? The pitch is the problem, it doesn’t take the water anymore.
“It could’ve been avoided with faster making decision or to play at another venue yesterday or even today, but that should’ve been organised before in the week to have Plan A, Plan B and Plan C and now its again postponed.
“I think its important for the league that in 2024 and 2025 these can things can never happen again, because it’s a really bad image for Scottish football.”
This situation can never happen again as it’s very bad for the image of the Scottish game