'Issues behind the scenes' - Ryan Jack issues 'Worse & Worse' Rangers verdict for Aberdeen clash

Ryan Jack believes difficult performances on the pitch under Philippe Clement are exacerbating issues behind the scenes at Ibrox.

The former Gers midfielder told PLZ Soccer’s Peter Martin on 29 October that the pressure on the Belgian manager is par for the course in charge of an Old Firm club, but pointed to a perfect storm of problems on and off the pitch as getting “worse and worse”.

Rangers head to Pittodrie to face Jack’s other former side Aberdeen on 30 October and he admits the home side are looking good, but wants to see a Gers victory.

He said (7m 20s): “Domestically, a lot of the games they’re scraping over the line and winning by one goal, but that just comes with the Old Firm, that pressure’s always there.

“There’s obviously a lot of issues behind the scenes at the club, obviously board-level and above. I just think, at the minute, there’s been a lot of negativity surrounding it and then when the performances are maybe not what the fans demand it gets worse and worse.”

The midfielder said he will be watching the game with his father visiting him in Turkey and admits he was impressed by the Dons showing vs Celtic on 19 October, but said: “Obviously for me, I hope Rangers go and win the game.”

Rangers underdogs vs Jimmy Thelin’s Dons at Pittodrie?

The pressure does never go away as Ibrox boss but Clement is under more than a lot of his predecessors currently.

The off-pitch issues pre-date his arrival at the club, and he isn’t to blame for the fact that they have actually got worse since he got there.

But he is the one in the spotlight on match-day so he could do himself a huge favour by coming away from Pittodrie with a win.

Unfortunately it is hard for fans not to view this game with trepidation rather than an opportunity to cut the gap to a team above, since the last time that chance presented itself Rangers delivered a meek 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock on 20 October.

They followed that up with a much-improved 4-0 Europa League win over FCSB, but regressed again on their return to domestic action to struggle past St Mirren 2-1.

A similar performance against the Dons will likely be punished, and defeat here would leave the Light Blues nine points behind Jimmy Thelin’s side, as well as presumably Celtic, and make a third-placed finish look all the more realistic.

Certain allowances can be made for Clement’s reign given the chaos off the pitch and the need to overhaul the wage structure, but being overtaken by another club will set alarm bells ringing.

In other Rangers news, a recent Clement signing could be leaving already in the January window.

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