Andy Walker tells Philippe Clement what immediate target has to be for Rangers before the year is out
Sky Sports commentator Andy Walker said the “immediate target” for Philippe Clement at Rangers is to win the Scottish League Cup.
Clement was named as the successor to Michael Beale on a deal until 2027 on Sunday (Sky Sports, 15 October).
The Belgian takes over a Rangers side who are already seven points adrift of rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table, meaning they already face a tall order to wrest the title back to the blue half of Glasgow.
But with the Bhoys having been dumped out of the League Cup by Kilmarnock in the second round, Rangers are favourites in that competition – albeit they face a tricky semi-final with Hearts on November 5.
Walker, a former Celtic player, told talkSPORT on Monday (16 October, 2:44pm): “He does of course have a chance of winning a trophy in the next couple of months with the League Cup at Hampden before the year is out, so that will be his immediate target.”
Set a marker
While Walker is not wrong it is a little bit obvious, isn’t it?
A new manager wants to win a trophy is hardly insight of the year.
But, having said that, of course it would do Clement and Rangers the world of good if they could bring some early success to his tenure and, who knows, if they do win the trophy then maybe it can be a catalyst for success for the rest of the season.
There is still a long way to go in that competition, though, and indeed there is still a long way to go in the title race and in the Europa League, another competition that Clement and his side will want to prove their credentials in.
The start of this campaign has not gone the way anyone at Rangers would have expected, so now it is about knuckling down, putting together a good run of results and proving this squad does have the ability to bring success to the Gers supporters.
In other Rangers news, Simon Jordan has slammed the board after appointing Clement.