Sunderland boss Michael Beale criticised as Rangers successor Philippe Clement lifts trophy vs Aberdeen
Rangers would have lost the Viaplay Cup final to Aberdeen if Michael Beale had still been in charge at the club, according to David Tanner.
The talkSPORT broadcaster reacted to the 1-0 Hampden victory on 17 December via Twitter to highlight the difference already between the former Ibrox boss and his successor Philippe Clement, who has secured silverware in just 14 games.
The Belgian surpassed the new Sunderland manager by lifting the first trophy of the season, after Beale fell short in the League Cup final a season ago against Celtic.
Tanner wrote: “Rangers lift the Scottish League Cup at Hampden. 14 games and 1 trophy for Philippe Clement. Under Beale, they would have lost today, IMO.”
On the up
It’s easy to criticise Beale for his time at Ibrox after the wheels came off when the summer recruitment drive proved such a damp squib, but it is easy to forget that he was showing positive signs early in his reign too.
The disrupted calendar last term as a result of the Qatar World Cup meant the Viaplay Cup final wasn’t until 26 February, and the former QPR boss had himself been unbeaten up until that meeting, including a 2-2 draw at home to Celtic which saw Ange Postecoglou’s side escape after an 88th-minute Kyogo Furuhashi equaliser.
At the time that suggested he could improve on Giovanni van Bronckhorst and turn the tables in Old Firm derbies, but it only proved to be the first in many missed opportunities in the biggest games.
That became far clearer when he followed a build-up to the final in which he had brought pressure onto himself with his back and forth with Chris Sutton, only to surprise everyone by leaving Nico Raskin and Todd Cantwell on the bench for a disappointing defeat.
It was his 15th game in charge where he fell flat, so the fact that Clement got the job done at almost the exact same juncture, having also just overseen a hugely-encouraging 3-2 away at Real Betis to top the Europa League group, is a clear improvement.
With the current Rangers manager having delivered two big results in a week when it matter the most, where Beale too often came up short on the big occasions, it is quite possible the trophy-win would have gone begging in a scrappy, tight affair under the previous manner.
It’s quite possible the Englishman will go back to the coaching strengths that he built his reputation on under Steven Gerrard at the Stadium of Light and make a success of himself back in the English Championship, but the Light Blues certainly look to be in a better place having made the change.
In other Rangers news, Lawrence Shankland has only increased speculation of a January move after dropping a hint in the wake of the League Cup triumph.