PHILIPPE CLEMENT has told worried Rangers fans they can still win the league.
Raging Ibrox diehards turned on their team after the 3-0 defeat to Celtic – with captain James Tavernier targeted for abuse.
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Gers could be eight points behind the Hoops by the time they play Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.
But asked at a fans’ Q&A if they could still mount a title challenge, a defiant Clement said: “I’m convinced about that or I wouldn’t be here.
“It’s about working hard with the team and making them gel to create connections.
“The other side of the town have been building their squad for more than one year and playing together.
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“It’s normal that they are ahead now. I hate that and I want to change that as fast as possible
“It’s been a challenging time but the proudest moments are still to come.”
Clement was given a warm reception as he arrived for a Rangers Charity Foundation Q&A with supporters.
The event was held against a backdrop of growing unrest as Ibrox punters question the direction of the club under the current regime.
Fed-up Gers fans hung a ‘Sack the board’ banner in the vicinity of New Edmiston House before the event.
They accused Ibrox chiefs of being “asleep at the wheel” as they urged chairman John Bennett to back Clement in future transfer windows.
The Belgian was joined by assistant coach Alex Rae for the first part of the event – before punters were given the chance to question him.
Clement wasn’t quizzed on Tavernier’s future amid continued interest from Turkish clubs before Friday’s Super Lig deadline.
And he wasn’t asked about his own meeting with angry fans outside Ibrox after Gers’ Old Firm defeat.
He was filmed being confronted by punters after the squad returned to Govan immediately following their loss to Celtic.
But the Belgian remains adamant that his new-look side will gel as players get used to the pressures of Rangers.
Clement told fans: “It’s a big rebuild. 16 players left and we lost seven for zero money. It was not easy.
“It’s the end of a cycle with older players leaving, so it’s hard.
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“Everybody is working really hard and players coming into this club need time to adapt.
“There is nobody in the world who can predict how they will react.
“I’m very sure we brought in several really talented players who will grow and will become better the next couple of years.
“Connor Barron played in some of the games at Aberdeen, not all the games, but he has already made a big step forward and got rewarded by being selected for Scotland.
“Jefte is only 20 and already showing good things.”
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Clement’s side face United on Sunday at Tannadice, with injury problems mounting up.
Danilo is out for at least four weeks with a knee injury, while Rabbi Matondo could face a two-month lay-off with a serious hamstring problem and Ridvan Yilmaz is also out.
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Asked how many windows it would take for him to build his ideal Gers squad, Clement said: “It’s impossible to predict that.
“All I can say is we will do it as fast as possible but you don’t have everything in your own hands in that way. You can only work really hard for that.”
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