Delight as Rangers turn tables on Celtic in ‘absolutely brilliant’ news for neutral
It is “absolutely brilliant” for the neutral that Rangers are back in the title race and have turned the momentum on Celtic, according to Lee McCulloch.
The former Gers captain said on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show on 16 February that Philippe Clement deserves all the credit for turning around a flagging operation after Michael Beale’s exit, after going level on points and goal-difference at the top of the table.
McCulloch believes the Hoops are now looking more likely to drop points before the next Glasgow derby, in a reversal of the two sides’ previous roles.
He said (33m 15s): “It’s brilliant, absolutely brilliant for the neutral. One goal in it. Momentum, if we were talking probably two and a half months ago we’re saying, ‘Celtic. Celtic’s going to do it. It’s a foregone conclusion’.
“The full momentum shift went the opposite way and Rangers are looking as if they’re getting better and better. They were really good against Ross County. And Celtic are the ones looking like they need to get to the Old Firm game without dropping a point, to leave a chance to again get that gap.
“But Rangers just need to keep winning. Obviously so do Celtic. But it’s alright getting a manager bounce and then going on a run. It’s sustaining that run [that’s important], and I think the manager deserves all the credit.
“Dealing with a lot of the players that he didn’t sign when he’d first come in, they’d signed for the previous manager, they were low on confidence, looking like they weren’t going to make an impact, and Clement’s come in and he’s rejuvenated, brought confidence, brought the fans back to really make Ibrox a fortress again.”
Clement lauded for Rangers turnaround with Celtic under pressure
The Ibrox boss does indeed deserve huge credit for shifting the entire atmosphere around the club, and the closure of the seven-point gap to Celtic that he found when he arrived is the result of that.
It has to be maintained though as the only defeat has come in his one derby so far, which became a poor pattern for his predecessor.
Taking advantage of slips from Parkhead has been a welcome change for the Gers however, and the pressure cannot help but increase if the points advantage has now disappeared even if not everyone thinks things are so bad for Brendan Rodgers.
A trophy win at the first opportunity helped give Clement’s era some real early legitimacy and so far he has taken full advantage to stick to the programme.
He appears to be delivering the right message publicly as he has largely been able to direct focus to the football, and must be succeeding in keeping his players engaged behind the scenes as well.
Neutrals are surely not as pleased as Rangers supporters but a genuine title race is certainly a more interesting spectacle all round.
In other Rangers news, an attacking talent has been predicted to make a permanent transfer to Ibrox.
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