By Anthony Evans

Copyright dailyrecord

Philippe Clement insists he is still ‘well-liked’ at Rangers and admits he still finds his sacking hard to come to terms with. The Belgian was given the axe at Ibrox back in February in the wake of a home defeat to St Mirre n that left them trailing rivals Celtic by 13 points at the top of the Premiership. Clement had been given a stay of execution weeks earlier despite suffering a shock Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Championship side Queen’s Park at Ibrox. The former Club Brugge and Genk boss did lift the Premier Sports Cup just weeks after his arrival in Govan in 2023 and also guided them to the last 16 of the Europa League in his first season. But his reign was marred with poor results in the league and his failure to get Gers back into the Champions League at the start of last season. Supporters had turned against him in the final weeks of his tenure but the 51-year-old reckons he is still held in high regard at Ibrox and with fans at Ligue 1 side Monaco, where he had been given the boot just four months prior to his arrival in Glasgow. Clement was asked by Belgian outlet GVA about his sacking at Ibrox, and ‘shifted uncomfortably’ about the manner of his departure, replying: “Too delicate to talk about, that’s the agreement. “I sometimes find it hard to put that out of my mind, because the circumstances in which something like that happens aren’t always known to the outside world, and that’s why it’s hard for me to call it dismissal. “The trick is to see through it. I may have joined those clubs at the wrong time. But I’m still well-liked in Monaco and Glasgow because they know the work I’ve done.” The ex Gers manager has revealed he has recently went through surgery due to a hip problem but is confident offers to get him back into work are just around the corner. “I’m not ready yet, and I’m talking about that hip surgery”, he added. “I’ve only been walking without crutches since last week. “It won’t be for another two or three weeks before I’m ready to get back into it. And something will come up. I’m sure of that. I also want to keep working abroad. “I’m not ready yet, and I’m talking about that hip surgery. I’ve only been walking without crutches since last week. It won’t be for another two or three weeks before I’m ready to get back into it. And something will come up. I’m sure of that. I also want to keep working abroad. “New adventures, new cultures, a certain way of working… I like Belgium, you know, but I was really captivated in Monaco and Glasgow, and I want to keep gaining experience. Not even as a national coach or anything like that. I still want to be on that pitch, working with the players every day. “I still love doing that. New adventures, new cultures, a certain way of working… I like Belgium, you know, but I was really captivated in Monaco and Glasgow, and I want to keep gaining experience. “Not even as a national coach or anything like that. I still want to be on that pitch, working with the players every day. I still love doing that.”