As Rangers prepare to face Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup 5th Round today at Ibrox, manager Philippe Clement has issued a firm reminder about the dangers of underestimating lower league opposition. The Belgian, reflecting on a painful cup upset during his time at Monaco, is determined to ensure his side doesn’t fall into the same trap.
Lessons from France Fuel Caution
Clement’s caution stems from a bitter experience in 2023, when his Monaco side were knocked out of the Coupe de France by Ligue 2 outfit Rodez. Despite leading by two goals, Monaco were pegged back and eventually lost on penalties. The former Monaco boss admitted that his decision to field too many young players, combined with lacklustre performances from his senior squad members, contributed to the shock defeat.
I put too many young guys in to give them a chance on that day and the senior guys didn’t perform as they should have done to help the young guys,” Clement explained. “On that day the other team was 100 per cent efficient and had the day of their lives. So, cup competitions are always something dangerous. You need to balance things really well.
Rangers Manager, Philippe Clement
Respecting Queen’s Park’s Threats
Clement made it clear that his Rangers team will approach today’s match with the same professionalism and intensity as they would a European heavyweight.
“We are very ambitious for this game on Sunday, and we respect Queen’s Park,” he said. “We will have the same preparation that we had against Manchester United or Tottenham [in the Europa League].”
Queen’s Park, currently competing in the Scottish Championship, have shown they’re no pushovers, with a style that could pose challenges for Rangers. Clement highlighted the opposition’s offensive capabilities and set-piece threats.
I read that they’re not going to park the bus and they’re going to go full into the fight to get results. So that’s what I expect, but it can also be the bus so we will see. It’s a team that can do good offensive actions. They have also really interesting set-pieces that they clearly work on a lot. They’re going to count on the counter-attacks and the set-pieces in this game. We need to be very focused on that.
Rangers Manager, Philippe Clement
Balancing Squad Selection
While Clement is aware of the fans’ desire to see younger talents like Bailey Rice, Rafael Fernandes, and Finlay Curtis get game time, his comments suggest he’ll tread carefully with squad rotation. The memory of that Monaco upset is still fresh, and with the Scottish Cup representing a prime chance for silverware this season, Clement seems determined not to risk an early exit.
Fans might still see some rotation, especially if Rangers can establish a commanding lead early in the match. However, Clement’s primary goal will be to secure progression to the next round before offering opportunities to the younger players.
Kick-Off Details
The match kicks off at 3:30pm at Ibrox Stadium. For those unable to attend, the game will be available to watch on RangersTV for international subscribers or those with a VPN.
Stay tuned to Ibrox Insider for post-match reactions, player ratings, and more. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest updates!
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