Chris Sutton slams Rangers boss Philippe Clement for ‘petty’ Brendan Rodgers response
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been slammed by Chris Sutton for his “petty” reaction to recent comments from Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
The Light Blues make the trip across Glasgow to face the Hoops on Saturday (11 May) as they look to move level on points at the top of the table, but Rodgers has insisted that his team are just looking to have some fun.
While Clement was quick to suggest that the Celtic boss’ comments were disrespectful following the Gers win over Kilmarnock, Sky Sports pundit Sutton has criticised the Belgian for his response in the media.
Speaking on It’s All Kicking Off (6 May, 4:15) he said: “It’s lovely and petty. I think Glasgow is getting to big Phil as it gets to everybody who plays or works in the city. It’s a goldfish bowl, it is intense.
“He also made a couple of reasonable points Philippe Clement, saying they were behind when he came in. They were seven points behind and now they’re three but they did have it in their hands Rangers and they let it slip when they lost at Ross County and dropped points against Dundee.
“What was remarkably petty was that Philippe Clement said that it was disrespectful towards his team and it’s something that he would never say about an opponent and then went out and did the interview with Sky where he said they were also going to go and have fun as well.
“You couldn’t quite make it up but it just adds a bit more spice to the game next Saturday.”
Can Rangers and Philippe Clement beat Celtic in the Old Firm derby at Parkhead?
If there is a game in Scotland that doesn’t need any extra spice it is this one. The entire Premiership title race comes down to Saturday’s meeting between the Old Firm rivals and these comments have only increased the tension.
Rodgers was quite clearly trying to play down the significance of the fixture and get in the head of the Gers’ dressing room and while Clement won’t want to admit it, it appears to have had the desired impact.
Hopefully, the Light Blues will brush aside the Hoops boss’ comments and do their talking on the pitch at the weekend. If they manage to pick up a rare win at Parkhead, they will be the only ones having fun as they move forward in the title race.
We likely haven’t heard the end of the war of words between the two Old Firm managers and while Sutton may think Clement has just been petty, the Rangers boss will be desperate to get one over his biggest rival.
In other Rangers news, one pundit was left baffled by a “bizarre” incident in the Gers’ clash with Kilmarnock at Ibrox
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