Rangers star sends direct response to recent Ibrox struggles as dressing room insider shares 'pressure' expectation

Mohamed Diomande accepts Rangers have been feeling the pressure in recent weeks after a string of below-par performances - but insists their comeback League Cup win over Motherwell proves they are heading the “right way”.

Gers manager Philippe Clement had been under huge scrutiny ahead of their semi-final showdown against the Steelemen at Hampden Park on Sunday after his side fell nine points behind Premiership pacesetters Celtic and Aberdeen. But the Belgian was left breathing a sigh of relief after his players staged a second-half fightback to overturn a one goal deficit to set up a final with Celtic on December 15.

Diomande - who came on to replace injured attacker Tom Lawrence during the first half - reckons progress is being made at Ibrox as Rangers prepare for their Europa League clash against Greek outfit Olympiacos in Athens on Thursday night.

The Ivorian confessed: “There’s been a lot of pressure obviously, we’re not going to hide it. I mean we’ve had poor performances lately. It’s all about bouncing back and I think we are on the right way to get to the level we expect ourselves and the coaches also and what everybody expects like the fans. So we are getting there.

“It is a healthy competition and we are all working hard in training and I’m giving my best to show the coach and to show my team mates that I am ready for whatever minutes I’m going to get. We are a group. I’m proud of the group and I’m going to give everything I can when I get playing time.

Diomande hasn’t started many games over the last month, but he declared himself ready to help his team mates in whatever role Clement wants him to play following an injury to Lawrence that threatens to keep him sidelined in the coming weeks.

“Olympiacos are a big team, but we have also shown that we can win games away from home. It’s going to be a tough game but we’ll try and win the three points. It’s going to take hard work, determination and we are going to prepare ourselves on Tuesday and Wednesday to do what the coach says we should do win the game.

“It’s going to be a good feeling,” Diomande continued, when asked if he expects a red-hot reception from the Greek Super League giants. “It’s always a good experience to play in a big stadium like Ibrox. We are all used to that, we are used to the noise and for me personally, it will be an amazing experience to play there. I’m ready to step up and give my best for the team.”

Rangers have a busy fixture schedule to navigate before next month’s final against Celtic, but Diomande admits they will be going all out to retain the trophy.

He added: “It’s going to be a challenge but it’s a long way away so we can’t really focus on that now, but when it comes we are going to be ready to fight. We want to keep the trophy, that’s what you want to do.”