Philippe Clement hails ‘step forward’ as new-look Rangers draw with Dynamo Kiev

Philippe Clement believes his changing Rangers side took “a step forward” in the 1-1 draw with Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday night which boosted their Champions League aspirations.

The boss is in the middle of overhauling the Ibrox squad, with nine players signed so far in the transfer window.

The goalless draw with Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday in the William Hill Premiership opener did little to improve fragile optimism among the fans and they suffered another blow in the first leg of their European third qualifying round tie in the Arena Lublin when Dynamo took the lead in the 38th minute with a goal from captain Andriy Yarmolenko.

Rangers improved after the break with substitutes Jefte, Vaclav Cerny – both new signings – Dujon Sterling and Kieran Dowell making a difference and, with the last kick of four added minutes at the end of the game, striker Cyriel Dessers nipped in at the near post to knock in a cross from Cerny.

The Light Blues will host Kyiv at Hampden Park next week while one Ibrox stand is being refurbished and victory will take them through to the play-offs, where Red Bull Salzburg or FC Twente await.

Clement told RangersTV: “They are a team with a lot of qualities like they showed against Partisan with the 9-2 (aggregate win).

“So in the phase we are in with the rebuild and what the players are showing, it is the step forward that I wanted.

“They are a really good team and they have been playing together four or five years.

“In that way I am already satisfied how the team is reacting in this very short time together you do a lot of things right.

“Of course we can do several things better still and that is to work on this coming week towards this game.

“We have also a league game in between.

“I don’t know if Kyiv will have one. They had a free weekend before this game and you saw still at the end they physically struggled.

“So I am curious if they are going to play at the weekend or not. Probably not. But we will do our job in our way.

“It is a really important result and I am hoping the fans get behind the team so hard that next week they can make so much noise to push us to qualify.”