Chris Sutton still has Rangers doubts despite dubbing Philippe Clement the ‘Belgian Ange Postecoglou’
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton still has doubts over Rangers current performances but dubbed Philippe Clement the “Belgian Ange Postecoglou”.
Rangers have been transformed since appointing Clement to replace Michael Beale, with the Light Blues lifting the Viaplay Cup by beating Aberdeen 1-0 at Hampden on December 17.
Moreover, they now trail Celtic by just two points in the Scottish Premiership and have a game in hand, while the fierce Old Firm rivals meet on December 30.
Sutton, speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast (21 December, 23:06), is not entirely convinced by Rangers, though, and thinks they are being helped by a “disjointed” Celtic side.
“I think there’s been a marked difference with the new manager Philippe Clement coming in with a good track record. He’s got his head down. He’s like a Belgian Ange Postecoglou really in that he’s just focusing on what his team are doing, and not talking about Celtic,” Sutton said.
“He’s off to a flyer. They had a brilliant result in Europe against Real Betis to top their Europa League group. I still don’t think Rangers are a brilliant football team, and I don’t think they’re out of the woods yet. I don’t think Philippe Clement thinks that.
“Where they will have a great deal of heart is when they look across the city at Celtic, who are disjointed and going through the motions.”
Proof is in the pudding
It is easy for Sutton, with his Celtic-tinted glasses, to hide behind a microphone and take any opportunity to stick the boot in, and that is never going to change it just is what it is.
The best way to make Sutton eat his words, though, is via performances on the pitch. There is some element of truth, the Gers are probably not playing free-flowing stuff, rather grinding out results when they need to.
But that is the mark of a good team. Take the cup final against Aberdeen. It was a drab, dour affair in which Rangers barely got out of second gear. Yet, who was it who came away with the trophy? That’s right it was Rangers.
There is still a long way to go in the title race, many had written Rangers off after an opening-day loss to Kilmarnock. And yet, here we are with Christmas on the horizon and Rangers are right back in it. That fixture with Celtic is looking huge in terms of the title race, it would be great if Rangers could make Sutton keep quiet even for a little while.
In other Rangers news, a doctor has shared an update on Leon King after a car accident.