Rangers manager Philippe Clement has left Gordon Dalziel “insane” with his post-match comments following the 3-0 defeat to Celtic in the latest Old Firm clash at Parkhead.
The loss has handed Celtic an early five-point lead in the Premiership title race, leaving Rangers in a precarious position heading into the international break.
While many pundits and fans were critical of the performance, Clement adopted a more optimistic tone in his post-match reaction, a stance that clearly irked Clyde 1 pundit Dalziel.
Speaking on The Open Goal YouTube channel (5 September), Dalziel expressed his frustration when Si Ferry asked: “You were critical of Clement’s comment after the game. Do you stand by that? Are you still baffled?”
Dalziel didn’t mince his words: “I canny get it, it drives me insane. I know as a Rangers manager he can’t come out and say look hands up, they battered us, this and that, I totally understand that.
“But you can come out and address it in a different way and say we have to do the dirty part of the game better, [Rabbi] Matondo chasing, we have to do bits and pieces better there, we were a wee bit slack in possession.
“You can dress it up like that, but for me don’t come out and start going on about stuff because everyone can see it. Every Rangers fan can see it as well. Michael Beale tried it with Rangers supporters and told the story of the three bears. I’m a big believer that you can put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig. It’s as simple as that, so come out and address it the right way.”
Dalziel’s frustration stems from what he perceives as Clement’s unwillingness to fully acknowledge the gap between the two teams. After such a heavy defeat, he expected more of a realistic assessment from the Rangers boss, especially given how poor Rangers have been in recent Old Firm clashes.
The 3-0 defeat was a painful reminder of the gulf in class between Rangers and Celtic, both on and off the pitch. Even the most loyal supporters would find it hard to ignore the disparity, with Celtic looking far superior in recent meetings.
Dalziel, like many fans, wanted to see Clement take more responsibility for the poor performance rather than trying to gloss over the issues.
Clement, of course, faces a dilemma. While he may privately recognise the gap, he likely feels that slamming his own players so soon after a heavy defeat would do more harm than good.
The Belgian manager may have opted for a more measured tone in public, preferring to save his harsher words for the dressing room, where it would have more impact on the squad.
The big question now is how Clement and his players respond after the international break. Rangers need to find a way to claw themselves back into the title race, but the gap between the two Glasgow sides looks wider than ever.
The onus is on the players to show some fight and resilience in the coming weeks, and Clement must find a way to inspire a reaction.
The international break provides a moment of reflection, but Rangers will need more than just words to close the gap on their rivals.
Clement’s honeymoon period at Ibrox is already under scrutiny, and the next few matches could define his early tenure. Only a marked improvement in performance will quell the growing discontent among the Rangers faithful.