Philippe Clement is facing an uphill battle to win over the Rangers supporters, a task that’s been made even more difficult after a humbling defeat at Celtic Park.
Just days after being confronted by angry fans outside Ibrox, the pressure on the Belgian boss continues to mount, with many questioning whether he’s the right man to turn things around at the Glasgow club.
Since taking charge at Rangers, Clement’s record in the Old Firm derby is nothing short of woeful.
Five matches, four defeats, and a solitary draw – a draw only salvaged by a last-minute wonder goal that prevented yet another loss to Celtic.
This kind of form in the biggest fixture of the season has left many fans frustrated and worried about the club’s trajectory under his leadership.
In a bid to calm the growing discontent, Clement recently attended a fan event, where he attempted to explain the team’s poor performances.
He defended his position with a series of excuses, but tellingly, he struggled to even mention Celtic by name.
It seems to be a recurring theme at Ibrox – a reluctance to acknowledge the club that has dominated Scottish football in recent years.
Clement, though, tried to spin a narrative of patience, urging the fans to stick with him as he works to turn things around.
He voiced his frustrations, stating: “It’s about working hard with the team and make them gel to create connections. The other side of the town have been building their squad for more than one year and playing together. It’s normal that they are ahead now. I hate that and I want to change that as fast as possible.” [RecordSport]
But let’s be clear, Celtic haven’t just pulled ahead recently—they’ve been ahead for a long time. The Parkhead side was in control well before Clement’s arrival, and unless something drastic happens, they’re likely to stay ahead for the foreseeable future.
Clement’s attempt to downplay Celtic’s dominance by calling it “normal” that they’re ahead feels like an effort to manage expectations rather than address the real issues at Rangers.
You can sense the discomfort when Clement refers to Celtic as “the other side of the town.” It’s a subtle reminder of the power dynamic in Glasgow, one that has shifted significantly in Celtic’s favour in recent years.
For all of Clement’s talk about hating Celtic’s success and wanting to change it, the reality is that Rangers are slipping further behind, and there’s little evidence to suggest that the gap is closing.
Clement can offer as many explanations as he likes, but the fact remains that he is struggling to deliver in the high-stakes matches that matter most to the Rangers faithful.
Until he and his squad face up to the challenge that Celtic poses, the frustration at Ibrox will only continue to grow. For Clement’s sake, and for the club’s, the time for excuses is running out.