Philippe Clement could solve Rangers Old Firm problem as impressive record v PSG is revealed
Arguably Rangers’ biggest problem under Michael Beale was their inability to win their biggest matches, especially against Old Firm rivals Celtic.
Under the management over Beale, the Light Blues only won one of their six meetings with Celtic and given Brendan Rodgers’ side’s excellent start to the season the defeat at the beginning of the campaign has put the Hoops in the driving seat once again.
It looks as though the race to become the new Rangers manager is down to its final two candidates, with Kevin Muscat and Philippe Clement the two potential appointments and the Belgian’s record during his time with Monaco would suggest that he could be the man to turn the tide in Glasgow.
The Daily Record shared on Friday (13 October) how Clement had faired against PSG during his time in Ligue 1, writing: “His record for Monaco against PSG makes some decent reading for Rangers fans.
“He had faced them four times previously in the Champions League as Club Brugge manager, with one draw and three defeats but it’s harder to compare those two sides. In Ligue 1, he squared off against PSG three times. He went undefeated with two wins and a draw. Not too shabby.
“In his first game against Mbape and Co, they trounced them 3-0 at home thanks to a double from Ben Yedder coming either side of a Kevin Volland strike. Rangers fans will be going he can do similarly in Old Firm games should he land the Ibrox gig.”
Obviously, every job is different and every club is different, but comparisons can be drawn between Monaco and PSG’s standing and that of Rangers and Celtic, with Clement’s former club weaker on paper during his tenure in a similar fashion to the Light Blues.
The hope will be that he will still be able to pick up results on Old Firm derbies in a similar fashion to his record in Ligue 1 as so often in the Scottish Premiership, there are the games that define your season as they not only represent a chance to get three points but also prevent your rival from doing the same.
Had Beale won the first Glasgow derby of the season, the gap between the Gers and Celtic would have been reduced to a single point rather than the seven currently splitting the two sides.
If Clement does take over at Ibrox in the coming days, it is unlikely to have a huge effect on this season’s title race, but Rangers will have a much better chance of lifting the title next season should they improve their record in the biggest matches.
In other Rangers news, Alison McConnell has been stunned by the ‘madness’ that the Gers may offer their new boss a four-year deal