Trouble: If Rangers fall short against Celtic in the championship game, Philippe Clement has warned that he would be scrutinized.
Trouble: If Rangers fall short against Celtic in the championship game, Philippe Clement has warned that he would be scrutinized.
If Philippe Clement loses against Celtic for a fourth time, Kenny Miller has threatened to probe him.
The Rangers manager has now managed three Old Firm derbies; the 3-3 draw at Ibrox is the sole glimmer of hope he has received from the match, and Saturday’s result was his second taste of defeat. The next two league games are pretty much must-win matches, and then there’s the Scottish Cup final against the Hoops.
After less than a year in command, a win would give him a cup double and let him to show supporters what is possible for the upcoming season and beyond. A first-ever triumph over the Hoops will also demonstrate that the team and manager ARE capable of competing with them.
Conversely, a defeat would imply that the Light Blues’ historical shortcomings under Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst still exist, as they are unable to defeat their fiercest opponents when it counts. Therefore, Miller believes that Clement would start to feel pressured at that moment, and there might be more at stake for him than just silverware.
“You’re always judged on the big games when you’re a Rangers or Celtics manager,” he said on talkSPORT. It is expected of you to win each and every match. It is expected of you to handle the teams outside of Celtic with relative ease. That hasn’t actually happened in the last 12 games. However, I recall that heading into the last derby of the previous campaign, Michael Beale was being criticized for losing key games, like the semi-finals and cup finals, to Celtic.
Philippe Clement will be facing Celtic for the fourth time in a short period of time in this Scottish Cup final, and if Rangers lose, it will put a lot of pressure on them—not right now, but when the next season approaches. If it was the sixth game and you haven’t been able to defeat your old rivals, then I just believe questions will start to be asked. The first Old Firm encounter will take place at Celtic Park, a venue they haven’t won at all in recent years.
“During the post-match press conference on Saturday, he lamented the team’s poor start, saying they’re struggling to find their rhythm and may not have been as aggressive. That makes three occasions following the game where we have most likely heard much of the same thing. It is his responsibility to go out and provide the squad with the necessary information so they can start the game correctly. Listen, players don’t always perform as expected.
“I really believe that, if he doesn’t win this Scottish Cup, going into that first Old Firm game next season will be crucial—especially after a big summer.” On the other hand, if you had given any Rangers supporter a League Cup and a Scottish Cup upon Philippe Clement’s arrival, they would have torn your hand off. The season can end on such a high note. That remains accessible, regardless of the events that have transpired over the past four to six weeks in the league.
