Journalist shares unseen Philippe Clement gesture in Rangers v Hearts
Journalist Graeme Young has shared an unseen gesture from Philippe Clement during the Scottish League Cup semi-final between Rangers and Hearts.
The Gers saw off their Scottish Premiership counterparts 3-1 at Hampden Park on Sunday (5 November), although the game was still goalless at the midway stage.
As the players made their way back to the halfway line after James Tavernier opened the scoring from the penalty spot, Clement urged every one of them to remain focused.
In an article for the Daily Record [6 November] pointing out unseen bits from the sidelines, Young said: “For all Clement’s stern expressions he is a motivational figure on the touchline if players are committing to moving the ball at speed even if passes go astray.
“And, perhaps, the most animated he was all afternoon was after Tavernier’s opener from the penalty spot. He flagged down every Rangers star returning for the restart with a gesture of punching his right hand into his left palm.
“Such a signal is universal and it was clear one wasn’t going to be enough in the eyes of the boss. And, sure enough, Wright added to Hearts’ woe with a inch-perfect finish minutes later.”
Demanding
With the game all square at the start of the second half, it could easily have turned out to be one of those days for Rangers. Anything but.
Tavernier’s penalty paved the way for a rather comfortable win in the end, as he went on to double his tally after Scott Wright had himself scored.
From 0-0 to 3-0 up in the space of 14 minutes, Rangers blew Hearts away and saw things out, even if Lawrence Shankland did pull one back.
Clement is a demanding coach, and that is something that is clearly working wonders as the Light Blues are unbeaten in five under the Belgian.
That includes four victories, each one helping to get Rangers’ campaign back on track after a poor start to proceedings under Michael Beale.
There are two more big games to come before the international break, and there is no reason why Clement’s unbeaten start cannot continue.
In other Rangers news, a player has given his verdict on a chant heard at Hampden Park at the weekend.