Barry Ferguson cannot believe what Philippe Clement can achieve amid ‘crazy’ Rangers verdict
Barry Ferguson cannot believe Philippe Clement has Rangers on the cusp of the top of the Scottish Premiership, saying such a scenario would have been a “crazy proposition” just a few months ago.
A 3-1 home defeat to Aberdeen on 30 September last year signalled the end for former boss Michael Beale and in the mind of many was also the end of any hopes Rangers had of lifting the title.
But since Clement replaced Beale in the hotseat, the Belgian has tasted defeat just once – to Old Firm rivals Celtic on 30 December – and they are only three points back of the Bhoys with a game in hand.
Former Rangers skipper Ferguson – writing in the Daily Record (9 February) – hailed Clement for recovering from a “disastrous” position when he took over.
“If you had said to me back on September 30 that Rangers would be one win away from clambering to the top of the table, I’d have probably looked at you like you had horns coming out of your head,” he wrote.
“Frankly, that seemed a crazy proposition just four months ago after the disastrous start the team made under Michael Beale. Seven games in and seven points behind after the defeat to Aberdeen which finally spelled time up for Steven Gerrard’s former assistant. Things looked bleak.”
Can Rangers topple Celtic in Scottish Premiership race?
Okay, show of fans please from Rangers supporters – who honestly thought the team could be in this position after that unforgivably poor performance against the Dons at the very end of September?
I can imagine not many have raised their hands, aside from maybe the most optimistic of supporters. The truth is, at that time, the race looked dead and buried even though we were only a couple of months into the campaign.
What Clement has achieved in a relatively short period of time has been seriously impressive and Rangers are riding a crest of a wave that could lead them all the way to the Premiership title.
There is still a long way to go and Celtic have shown in the past that they know how to get over the line in title races, so there is nothing being taken for granted. But the fact they are in this position at all is a testament to the fine job Clement has done. Long may it continue.
In other Rangers news, one pundit has made a new admission after what he saw at Ibrox.
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