Martin O’Neill makes remarkable Clement admission at Rangers after Celtic defeat
Martin O’Neill believes Philippe Clement should be safe at Rangers despite the penalty-shoot-out loss against Celtic on Sunday.
The Gers fell to defeat against their Old Firm rivals once again at Hampden on 15 December as Daizen Maeda scored the winner after Ridvan Yilmaz’s miss.
This brings to an end an unbeaten run for the Light Blues which has stretched across nine games, reducing pressure surrounding the manager at Ibrox.
Simon Jordan questioned whether the Belgian is now free from criticism, or if his comments in the press will continue to frustrate supporters.
Speaking live on talkSPORT (16 December), Jordan said: “Do you think that Clement has weathered the storm?
“Because there was a rising set of objections, storm clouds forming over the horizon about some of the things he was saying in the press up until recently.
“Even last week he spoke about the financial difficulties of the games coming up against Tottenham and Celtic because both of those sides are financially more adept than Rangers. Do you get the impression that he may be over that hill of immediate threat?”
Former Celtic boss O’Neill replied: “It would be great if he was. I think that the performance yesterday will alleviate things. In about 10 days’ time that will be forgotten again – it’s only the result that eventually matters.
“There has been an uplift in performances, and their efforts in Europe have been remarkable considering their form was so poor domestically. It depends on the players.”
Philippe Clement may be safe at Rangers after Celtic defeat
It was a bitter blow for the Gers to suffer a defeat at Hampden on penalties after leading early on and coming back from behind twice.
Nedim Bajrami’s first-half strike should have sent the Govan club towards victory but that isn’t how it transpired again.
Regardless of this, the performance level in the Old Firm was improved which can only be taken as a positive.
Clement had come under fire for poor performances, especially against Celtic, during his tenure at Ibrox and has potentially turned that around despite the defeat.
The former Monaco boss won’t have to wait for long to try and right the wrongs of the League Cup as the Hoops travel to G51 on 2 January.
Pressure may begin to build on the Belgian if a positive result isn’t secured at home against Brendan Rodgers’ side, especially after pushing them so close at Hampden in the final.
In other Rangers news, a finance expert has shared what likely will be first on Patrick Stewart’s in-tray.
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