Philippe Clement admits he is going through the most difficult time of his managerial career as he tries to recover from Rangers’ embarrassing loss to Queen’s Park.
The Belgian boss has been intermittently under pressure this season as Celtic gradually opened up a healthy lead over their Old Firm rivals at the top of the William Hill Premiership.
However, a deluge of criticism followed the 1-0 defeat at home to the Championship side in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup fifth round last Sunday.
Rangers are in the last 16 of the Europa league but it looks almost certain to be a trophy-less domestic season and many fans are looking for a change in the dugout.
Ahead of the game against Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday, the former Genk, Club Brugge and Monaco boss was asked if it felt like the toughest period of his managerial career so far.
“Yes, it is,” said Clement. “And for sure because of the last game, it’s the most freaky one also, to lose that game.
“And because of that, with all the reactions, yes that’s the toughest moment until now. But I’m not running away from it.
“I think it’s the same as in Club Brugge where you need to win every game.
“But I didn’t have freaky results like we had and I understand all the anger around that result.”
Asked how he would go about lifting the players for the trip to Tynecastle to play an in-form Jambos side who have yet to lose in 2025, Clement said: “To speak with them, to see who needs what, to see what we need as a team, to learn from this last game where mistakes were made and things they did well.
“And to focus on Hearts because it’s a different game, it’s a different opponent.
“And we need to show again what the team has shown the last weeks, this last period, where they played good games.
“So that’s what we need to show on Sunday.”
Much was made of Clement’s decision to substitute 18-year-old midfielder Bailey Rice at half-time against the Spiders, in what was his first start for the Light Blues.
The Gers boss explained his decision and claimed the youngster will benefit from the disappointment.
He said: “I know there is concern from people about Bailey being taken off at half-time and the effect it will be on him.
“I can say that there’s no reason to have any doubts about that.
“We had a meeting with Bailey like we do with other players, and it’s always collectively and individually with players.
“Bailey was the first one who was not happy with his first half. It’s normal, he’s 18, the first start at Ibrox, he’s a lifelong fan. There is a certain tension around that.
“He’s a player really I believe in. I don’t give easy chances to 18-year-olds in a big European game or to start games like that.
“Bailey played an okay game, but he didn’t use the qualities that he has and the specific quality that will make him a top player for the future. That is his really good passing and his passing forward to breaking lines.
“Bailey is very motivated and hungry. He feels my confidence, he feels the confidence of the staff. And I’m very sure also after this meeting, because that was interesting also to see how he reacts in that situation.
“He was very mature, very understanding of what he did wrong. And he will learn out of this and it will be a good experience, one that makes him better, so no doubts about it.”