The present and the future is all about the ‘story’ for Philippe Clement. He is cognisant and appreciative of the history at Ibrox as he seeks to write his name in the Rangers record books.

Of the thousands of images that were taken before, during and after the Viaplay Cup final on Sunday, one of Clement stands out. In many ways, it says a 1000 words. The trophy – adorned with red, white and blue ribbons for the first time in 12 years – is prominent, sitting proudly on the desk. Clement’s hand rests on it as he assumes the position that only 18 men have occupied. Behind him, two of the most revered and respected watch over the latest Ibrox incumbent.

The images of Willie Waddell and Jock Wallace – both hugely storied managers and seismic figures at Ibrox – represent the history of Rangers and encapsulate the standards and successes that make the club one of the most prized in the game. It is that narrative that Clement is now the main protagonist of.

The League Cup win over Aberdeen represents his first chapter. Come the end of the campaign, he could have two more tales to tell as Rangers now look to regain the Premiership title and Scottish Cup. They do, of course, also have European ambitions to come and both Waddell and Wallace will be looking down with an extra sense of understanding at that particular quest.

Clement does not speak in a cliché way about what has gone before him at Ibrox. He has worked at big clubs in the past, but Rangers is unique on almost every metric. That is not lost on the 49-year-old.

“It’s one of the great things about this club, and I have said that to a few people already,” Clement said. “The club really kept its history in a good way. The stadium, also. Some stadiums have a lot of history, but they are old, they are tired. This stadium has a lot of history but it’s kept in a really good way. It seems brand new.

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“It gives something extra, it gives a lot of motivation to the players. I know it was really important for them to write history on Sunday, to be alongside those names who have won those cups. It’s something that lives in the dressing room.”

The day that Clement climbed the Marble Staircase and took his seat in the Blue Room already seems like such a long time ago. Indeed, he joked on Sunday that it felt like he had been manager for a year already. That is understandable given what Clement has packed into his first couple of months and what has been achieved in a short period.

He urged his players to savour the moment on Sunday. The scenes of celebration at Hampden and on their return to Ibrox will remain etched in the minds long after this season has been played to a finish and long after careers have come to an end.

Clement has played down his role in what was accomplished as James Tavernier scored the only goal of the final. The captain has lived through his fair share of defeats and disappointments but was rightly front and centre of the party as he completed his set of Scottish medals and Clement added another to his own personal collection.

“I’ve said before that I’m not so busy with those things,” Clement said. “I’m busy with the lives of others. I look at the players, the staff and the club, I put all my energy into that.

“Before the cup final I read somewhere that I’d lost the two cup finals as a player before I became a manager. To be honest, I didn’t remember if I’d won or lost because I won a few as a coach and they are always special.

“I don’t keep counting how many titles, how many cups. I’m not busy with that. Somewhere in my house there is a glass cabinet, but it’s not something I’m busy with.”

There is not a player in the squad who has the relationship with the Ibrox crowd that Tavernier both enjoys and endures. The man who lifted title 55 but had to walk past the Europa League trophy knows better than anyone what silverware means to the supporters.

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His strike against Aberdeen – one which summed up Clement’s use of the full-backs as Tavernier converted a Borna Barisic cross - was the 115th of his Rangers career. It is a number that Clement acknowledges is ‘incredible’ but the fact that he ‘doesn’t only play to get stats’ is the most telling factor for the Belgian.

“He was the first guy I talked with when I stepped into this building,” Clement said. “It was important for me to feel what was going on and to know those things fast so I could change things fast.

“It was a really open talk and afterwards, James and a few other guys have been my right hand in this building and on the field. So it’s important to have players on the pitch who understand the story. Not only the tactical story but also why you make decisions, what you make changes.

"You see now, if I rotate eight players to keep everybody at their best level, they understand now. In the beginning you have to explain all those things. So for sure these guys need to understand and they also have to show a good example.”

The ambition of winning the next one is just as significant as the achievement of winning the last one. In that regard, the visit of St Johnstone this evening carries its own sense of importance as Rangers look to move within two points of Celtic in the Premiership.

READ MORE: Aberdeen 0-1 Rangers: James Tavernier the Hampden hero

The reception Clement’s side receive will be even more raucous than the one bestowed on them on Sunday evening. That in itself acts as a motivator.

“I have said a few times that those are the things why I want to stay as a coach,” Clement said as he picked out the atmosphere in the win over Sparta Prague. “Nothing is as nice as being on the pitch and I think as a player you have more control over things as a manager now more than guiding everything. I think as a player you can be decisive in scoring the decisive goal.

“The feeling I had after the game, you cannot have that another way in this world. I enjoy it really much. I did not do it enough during my career and I did not do it enough in moments afterwards as a manager as I am always thinking about the next thing already and it was the case on Sunday. I am now more aware that I need to enjoy that moment also and I did so it was really good.”