Ranking relieves pressure from Philippe Clement in the Rangers job

The Rangers were highly challenged by Motherwell during the semifinal of the Scottish League Cup, but they managed to turn it around in the second half and book their place in the final. In a tight game full of tension, twists, and heightened pressure, current Scottish champions manage to fight their way back and keep their hopes for title retention alive. Rangers' head coach, Philippe Clement hailed the result while conceding that there's still a lot that the team has to adjust before facing Celtic at the next stage.

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Rangers on the Back Foot

The first half just didn't live up to the hopes of Rangers fans. Rangers started strong, pressuring them hard and threatening to break through a few times, yet it was Motherwell that scored first. Andy Halliday beat one of the early breaks and fired it into the net as the stadium fell silent. Their reaction was concerted, and frustration-and maybe even a little doubt-had hung in the air by halftime.

And so, Philippe Clement knew he needed something concrete to come out of that negative energy in order to build momentum into the second half. That indeed is what he told the team in the locker room: sustained pressure, push forward, and don't let this early goal dent their confidence. It was indeed a "tough blow," Clement said, but one also pointed out to the resiliency of the team-a characteristic the team has built upon these past weeks.

The Comeback That Saved the Game and Sparked Hope

The response from Rangers came right onto kickoff in the second half, and it could hardly have been better-timed. Cyriel Dessers positioned himself with precision before calmly restoring the Gers to this game with a leveled score. This goal proved quite pivotal for the team and its fans. The tension seemed to lift, and Rangers started dominating the match. Their aggressive attitude, along with the more aggressive advance, gave a new rhythm to the game, with Motherwell starting to feel stretched.

But the icing on the cake with Nedim Bajrami was simply afterwards. Beautiful team play saw his shot deflected and seal the lead. Pure celebration ensued, as Bajrami and Dessers not only scored but summed up the mentality Clement has tried to instill within this Rangers team: one of perseverance and teamwork. These two goals were so pivotal in showing Rangers still had the drive for the final and to pursue yet another title.

Philippe Clement's Thoughts

For the Gers' coach, this victory counted for more than qualification. He signaled that such goals were important, born of collective work, and praised the team's work in defense: "Both truly were team goals with well-executed combinations, that is what we like to see".

Clement will do well to acknowledge that the next phase of the competition won't be easy. He declared his satisfaction with the performance of Rangers but said they need to show more "composure" and "effectiveness" in finishing. "You'd prefer to score more goals today and show a bit more composure," he said, acknowledging there is still room for growth before facing their biggest rival.