'I'd be shocked if he didn't' Barry Ferguson seizes on Clement's act of defiance in taking on biggest Rangers question

Determined Barry Ferguson believes Philippe Clement gave the only acceptable answer in the eyes of Rangers diehards when he insisted their title hopes were alive.

The Record Sport columnist is adamant it's non-negotiable to believe at Ibrox even amid a sobering start to the season which sees them playing catch-up to serial Premiership winners Celtic. The 50-year-old met his beleaguered public on Tuesday night – nine days after the Rangers boss was forced to soothe irate natives in the wake of Rodgers' side dishing out a pasting.

And Ferguson, speaking to Go Radio, believes Clement made the right noises. He said: "Listen, he stood up there, fair play to him. It must have been tough after the last result, but he sat in front of them, and answered the questions as best as possible. I'm sure he is just desperate for this game to come round on Sunday (vs Dundee United. That two week, that would feel like two months. It would just be killing me inside and be desperate for a game as quickly as possible. I am sure that is the case for the players and manager.

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And Ferguson – who bared all over his pain watching the team he loved being ripped to shreds in person – likes that the Belgian refused to shirk the big question when he was directly asked if his side, currently five points behind after four games, could recover and lift the Scottish Premiership.

Ferguson added: "I'd have been absolutely shocked if he didn't say it, absolutely no chance, if your manager and the players don't believe it, then what chance have you got? It's going to be tough with the way Celtic have started, I won't sit here and kid anyone on. Celtic have looked really strong and really at it. Rangers have had an average start. But if you are asked that question, I would be absolutely shocked if you said anything else. If you don't have that belief, you shouldn't be involved."