Phil Clement is looking very unstable six days away from taking his side to Celtic Park where defeat would leave his side six points behind the hoops with two matches left in the SPFL Premiership.
After watching his side beat Hearts on Saturday Brendan Rodgers was in top form as he met the media afterwards.
It was hard to find fault with Celtic’s performance, the players were sharp and alert, the fans were in sync with their backing with big players like Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda returning from injury. What’s not to like?
The win over Hearts was almost a sidenote as the Scottish media slipped into their favourite mode with a week to hype up an O** F*** clash that could almost decide the title.
Every possible aspect and angle will be dredged up over the coming week, the dullest of pundits will be sharing their thoughts as space and broadcasting time is eaten up to preview Saturday’s lunchtime clash.
With all that tension and excitement in the media room Rodgers reduced the temperature by saying that his players would have some fun.
It was a light hearted line, a throwaway in front of people who will be working round the clock dredging up every conceivable angle relating to Saturday’s match.
That was lost on one man, apparently, he is a Proper Football Manager but he couldn’t brush aside that comment, biting eagerly when it was put to him after his side won 4-1 today against Kilmarnock.
🔊 LISTEN: “It’s not really respectful towards my team. I will never say things like that about an opponent. But okay, we will see.”
🔵 Rangers boss Philippe Clement looks ahead to next weekend’s Old Firm and reacts to Brendan Rodgers’ claim that Celtic will have “a bit of fun”. pic.twitter.com/ZcqZ8KodTK
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) May 5, 2024
Clement really does live up to the Belgian stereotype of being without a sense of humour, even in the Belgian media he is known as being dull and dry.
There is a slight language issue, despite spending time as a player at Coventry City almost 30 years ago he doesn’t quite grasp Manager Speak, the stringing together of cliches to fill spaces and air time.
When the fun question was put to him the sensible reaction was to smile and deflect, instead The Proper Football Manager waded in miles outside of his comfort zone.
Rodgers made no reference to Saturday’s opponents but clearly his opposite number hangs on every word coming out of the Celtic camp, either that or he is being fed by the same PR machine that worked with Pedro Caixinha and Micky Beale.
If that is how Clement reacts to the gentlest of issues after a 4-1 home win there could be fireworks on Saturday if things don’t go his way.
The pressure of taking his side to the top of the SPFL for a month then falling away has created incredible expectation among the loyal bears.
Clement won’t meet the media again until Friday, he really should spend some time away from obsessing about Celtic if he hopes to surpass Beale’s 10 month stint as manager.
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Rodgers just said it would be fun. He didn’t even mention Rangers. 😂😂
They’re too easy to rattle. 😂😂
— The Free Rogic International. (@CelticEnded2iar) May 5, 2024
This guy can’t get Celtic out of his head, be stalking through Instagram tonight again. Did he conveniently forget to hear Rodgers saying he wasn’t taking anything for granted. He’s as weak a tavernier him.
— Scott McIntyre (@scottMc85081322) May 5, 2024
Can’t believe Rodger has managed to rumble him this much. Quite incredible… 😂
— 🍔 Gastro Celtic 🍀 (@Gastro_Celtic) May 5, 2024
Unravelling so fast man. If we paste them next weekend, his post match will be blockbuster stuff
— PicklesMcPickle (@StenFluffman) May 5, 2024
showing again he is classless and doesn’t have the mindset of the pressure in Glasgow If a comment like that gets under your skin.
Clemente: It’s disrespectful I would never say that about another team.
Also Clemente: I hear yesterday Celtic will have fun,we will have fun also.— Billyballoonhead (@Billyballoonhe2) May 5, 2024
The big guy ain’t great at the mind games stuff. Way too easily rattled. 😉
— Aldo Boot (@bikey99) May 5, 2024
The guy is a bad loser and has no class,he will have a meltdown if they lose next week.
— Billyballoonhead (@Billyballoonhe2) May 5, 2024
Anyone else starting to get Pedro Caixinha vibes off this guy?
— Notoriously Celtic (@TheNotoriousCSC) May 5, 2024
Honestly big Clemont is “feeling it” alright…..should be embarrassed with the amount of help the rangers diehard referee gave them today… everything except score himself.
Dickinson has awarded them a penalty in the last 3 games he’s refereed…plus the red is a joke.
— 🍀Stevie Bhoy🍀XRP🐳 (@conmansteggo) May 5, 2024
6 months ago 7 points behind to now 3 points behind. Missed the part where they had a lead and bottled it 🤣🤣🤣
— Alan Madden (@Madden1205) May 5, 2024
It is no coincidence that Rangers dip in performance has coincided with Baldy Beale’s ever increasing meltdown and the return of box office Brendan in past few weeks
Every time Brendan has made a comment about mentality, Rangers have stumbled. Hopefully continues next week
— Tony MacDonald (@TonyMacD21) May 5, 2024
— Mark Murphy ⭐️ (@Markyjig) May 5, 2024
