Philippe Clement insists Rangers gap to Celtic 'not big' as he vows major change incoming with 11 players missing

Philippe Clement insists it “is not a big gap” to Celtic if both squads are at full strength – as he ruled out ELEVEN players for Tuesday’s Scottish Premiership clash with Dundee.

And the Belgian insists the Light Blues “need to do smart things” in the summer as they look to strengthen. He vowed to go all out to complete a domestic cup double when he faces Celtic for a fourth time in his seven months in charge in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden later this month.

Clement is still recovering from the blow of losing at Parkhead on Saturday which effectively ended any hopes they had of winning the title. But failure to beat the Dark Blues in their final league match would hand the Hoops three-in-a-row. And the Gers boss said: “If we are both fully fit, there is not a big gap but we need to prove this in results on the pitch. We need to grab our moments, that is part of top football. We had our chances to score the first goal, we need to take these moments.

“We have 11 players missing tomorrow. Souttar, Goldson, Balogun, Sterling, Lundstram, Lawrence, Cortes, Matondo, Sima, Danilo and Rice will all be missing tomorrow. This is a major thing and we need to change heading into next season. There is going to be a turnaround in the squad this season. We have been working hard on this for months. It is important for now to focus on our next three games, we have to make the best with the players available. There is a chance for players to show on the pitch the next few weeks.

“I want to get better and learn from any mistakes, this is what I also expect from everyone in the building. I want to win more trophies with this club, it’s now about working hard to improve every day.

“We need to do smart things for now, and for the future of the club this summer. We need assets for the future, and experience players in. It is not only in recruitment, we need to make smart decisions across other departments to improve the injury situation into next season.

“We always look back on the game. We had some chances in the opening stages, but togo in at half time with 10 and 2-1 down makes it much more difficult to get the end results. The team showed a lot of resilience with the ten in the second half.

“We will fight really hard into the cup final. We need to stay with eleven and take our moments. We will push everything into the cup final, and we know our support will back us as always in the cup final as they have done brilliantly this season.”

John Lundstram was the Gers sinner on Saturday as he was sent off on the stroke of half time to leave Gers with a mountain to climb but Clement refused to hang him out to dry with the midfielder set to leave Ibrox in the summer.

Clement said: “Players make mistakes, managers make mistakes. Lundstram has been giving a lot the last months, he has had bad games but always gives his best for this club. He has made a mistake and we now look forward. I count on everyone in this building until the last second they are here to give everything for the club.”