Philippe Clement has issued a stern warning to Brendan Rodgers ahead of today’s Glasgow Derby, emphasizing that Celtic will be up against an exciting and ambitious young Rangers side when the match kicks off at noon.
The summer saw a significant overhaul at Ibrox, with seasoned players like Connor Goldson, John Lundstram, and Borna Barisic departing the club.
The exodus continued right up until the transfer window closed, with Scott Wright and Todd Cantwell among the latest to leave.
In their place, a fresh crop of talent has been brought in, and Clement is expected to field two or three debutants in today’s showdown, with Connor Barron leading the charge for Rangers.
Despite Celtic’s dominance in recent derbies—winning four and drawing the other fixture last season—Clement is confident that his restructured team has the potential to upset the odds.
Speaking to The Daily Record, the Belgian manager expressed his belief in the quality and potential of his young squad.
“We’re an exciting young team who want to challenge that now,” Clement said. “I believe we have the quality to do that—and to go for three points on Sunday. We’ll do that. But we’re not the finished article, which is normal because we’re rebuilding with 16 players leaving. But I know there’s only one truth at the end and that’s what’s happening on the pitch.”
Clement was quick to temper expectations, noting that while today’s match is crucial, it won’t determine the entire season. “Nothing will be determined on Sunday in one game,” he continued.
“It’s an exciting challenge for us. And of course, if we can play a really good game and get a good result, we can take a massive step forward as a club.”
Meanwhile, James Tavernier, amid transfer speculation, remains at Ibrox and will captain the side into his tenth season with the club.
Celtic, on the other hand, have maintained a stranglehold on this fixture in recent years, losing just twice in the SPFL over three seasons, with one of those defeats coming after they had already secured the title.
Rodgers, who made three Deadline Day signings, is unlikely to start any of the new arrivals today. Instead, he is expected to stick with a lineup similar to the one that secured a convincing 3-0 victory away at St Mirren last week.
With Aberdeen winning away at Ross County yesterday, Celtic enters today’s derby in second place, trailing the Dons by three points. The stakes are high, and both managers know that today’s result could set the tone for the rest of the season.