Philippe Clement faces ‘crucial’ Celtic challenge at Rangers as Michael Beale comparison made
Kenny Miller believes Rangers’ first Old Firm match next season will be “crucial” as he raised concerns over Philippe Clement’s Ibrox future.
The Gers were condemned to their third Old Firm loss in four meetings this season on Saturday (11 May) as Matt O’Riley netted before John Lundstram scored an own goal after 38 minutes.
Cyriel Dessers offered some hope with a close-range header before Willie Collum had no choice but to send John Lundstram off for a strong challenge on Alistair Johnston.
Miller – who played for both sides of the Glasgow divide – thinks Clement could be facing a similar issue to predecessor Michael Beale when it comes to the pressure games at Ibrox.
Speaking live via talkSPORT on Monday (13 May, 7:40am), Miller said: “As a Rangers or Celtic manager, you’re always judged on the big games. You’re not expected to win every game, and you’re definitely expected to deal with the sides outside of Celtic pretty easily.
“Over the last 12 games, it’s not really happened. Michael Beale was having stuff thrown at him about big games, semi-finals, cup finals, and Old Firm games in particular.
“This Scottish Cup final will be Philippe Clement’s fourth go at Celtic. If Rangers were to lose, it heaps a lot of pressure on Clement. Next season, that first Old Firm game is back at Celtic Park. It’s a place that they’ve not won at too often.
“If that’s the fifth game that they’ve not been able to get one over on their rivals, I think questions will start to be asked. We’ve heard a lot of things after the game as we did at Ibrox.
“I don’t think Clement will come under any pressure now. But after a big summer, going into the first Old Firm game next season will be crucial if he doesn’t get the Scottish Cup done.”
Is Philippe Clement under pressure at Rangers following Celtic defeat?
While the Gers still have one final chance to prove themselves against their Old Firm rivals this season in the Scottish Cup final, Miller is already looking ahead to next season.
Rangers have unable to get over the line against Celtic on four occasions this season and their title dream is surely over bar a footballing miracle in the final two games.
Now six points behind their rivals, Clement’s side must depend on Celtic to lose both of their final matches against Kilmarnock and St Mirren, which seems highly unlikely.
Beale came under similar pressure from the Rangers fans during his reign at Ibrox, having won just a single Old Firm match in six meetings with the Hoops.
Despite only being appointed in October, replacing Beale, some have suggested that Clement is already under pressure to perform in Scotland and faces a very important summer transfer window ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
In other Rangers news, a star player may now never be seen at Ibrox after a ground-breaking update has emerged about him recently.
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