Philippe Clement now under ‘serious pressure’ at Rangers after shocking decision
Philippe Clement is said to be under “serious pressure” at Rangers heading into the new season after transfer calls made by the club backfired, according to The Scottish Mail’s Gary Keown.
Keown reported on pages 98-99 [26 May] that Clement’s decision to sign Fabio Silva on loan from Wolves this year has turned out in poor fashion in comparison to Celtic’s deal for Adam Idah.
Idah hit the crucial decisive goal late on in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday – a first Old Firm final for 22 years – to compound a largely miserable campaign for the Light Blues despite claiming the League Cup.
Keown didn’t hold back on Rangers: “[Brendan] Rodgers brought in a scorer, a goals man, in Idah in January to bolster his options. Clement went with Silva.
“That, as it turns out, has made the difference in the end. And it has left the Rangers manager with absolutely no room for error going forward into next season.
“He’s under serious, serious pressure.”
Silva and Idah, and Rangers’ wrong call
The stats – and fan opinion – don’t lie when outrightly comparing Fabio Silva and Adam Idah for their respective impacts in Glasgow.
Idah joined Celtic exactly a month after Silva arrived at Ibrox, and the Irishman has played over 400 fewer Scottish Premiership minutes than the Portuguese – scoring double the league goals, two more assists – and a winner in an Old Firm final to cap off a hair-tearing Rangers season.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where it has gone wrong for Silva, as he has demonstrated flashes of ability which have at times got the Gers out of jail – an eventually vital equaliser at the end of a nightmare first half against Kilmarnock at Ibrox being one.
That goal in particular is so pertinent as it sums up his five months north of the border. A nice piece of play when Rangers needed it most, followed by a daft, self-unaware celebration in front of a bemused crowd.
And when it’s mattered in the big moments, Idah is the one who has been there, and Rodgers has left Clement scattering. There remains no margin for error this summer, and the Belgian knows.
In other Rangers news, two more incomings are expected this week after Jefte’s signing was sealed.
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