Rangers: ‘Glaring problem’ highlighted following loss vs Celtic, Philippe Clement must rectify it
Journalist Gavin Berry says “the most glaring problem” for Rangers is that their players lack the quality and desire to match Celtic.
The Gers fell to a 2-1 loss at Parkhead on Saturday (30 December) to fall nine points behind Celtic, albeit with two games in hand.
Rangers have now lost both matches against their fierce rivals this season, which Berry believes is an area of concern.
Writing for the Daily Record [1 January], he said: “The most glaring problem is that, in the main, this group of Rangers players lack the quality and desire to match Celtic.
“And for anyone who didn’t already know, Callum McGregor pretty much made it clear in that leaked video from his post match interview in a Parkhead hospitality suite.
“‘We feel like when we play against them they don’t deal with the intensity’, said the Hoops captain. ‘If you get after them and press them and make them kick out the pitch then very quickly they will start to unravel’.”
Too many no-shows
Philippe Clement has worked wonders at Ibrox since succeeding Michael Beale, but it seems his magic touch does not extend to ensuring Rangers’ players turn up for a showdown with Celtic.
James Tavernier’s late free-kick may have given the Light Blues some respectability, but they were nowhere near their best at Parkhead once again.
Unfortunately, too many of the Gers’ big names failed to make a telling impact, while the opposite was true for Celtic.
For example, Todd Cantwell and Cyriel Dessers had poor games, whereas Kyogo Furuhashi and Callum McGregor impressed for the hosts.
Clement should be spared of any blame because he has been a breath of fresh air since coming in. However, the Belgian has to ensure there are no repeats of this loss – or more specifically, the manner of it.
Lacking quality is one thing, but to show a lack of desire is unforgivable. Clement will have a chance to put things right in the third league meeting between the sides in April, but before then the gap needs to be closed.
In other Rangers news, a journalist has suggested that a first-team regular may have two games to save his Ibrox career.