Phil Clement’s attempt at mind games backfired spectacularly today when he was interviewed by Sky Sports after his side’s 3-0 win away to Ross County.
Trying to be smart in a second language isn’t for everyone, the former Monaco boss certainly isn’t Jose Mourinho, he doesn’t have the personality or track record of winning to carry it out convincingly.
Clement’s media appearances have made for incredible viewing since he watched his side lose 2-1 at home to Motherwell at the start of March, apparently it was a game his side should have won 5 or 6-1, completely ignoring one of the goals scored by Stuart Kettlewell’s side.
Worse was to follow a month later when he declared a 3-3 draw at home to Celtic as a moral victory, there really was no way back from that.
Next up he was discussing global warming at Dens Park then hiding away from Don Cowie in the little boys room at Ross County after a damaging defeat.
The once dull and boring Belgian has become compulsive viewing, his take on events has brought gas-lighting to new levels with Ibrox fans shaking their heads while supporters of other clubs laugh as his wild outbursts.
Partly Clement is being fed information from his club’s media team and partly he is sinking into the paranoia of a club and support that claims to be the Most Successful in The World but sits with the same trophy count as St Johnstone.
Late last season Clement turned to xG and the losers favourite of small margins to mask failure, after losing 3-0 to Celtic in September he clung onto possession stats while reminding angry bears that the previous week’s 6-0 win over Ross County was their best result in four years.
Today, a week ahead of lining up against Celtic in the final of the League Cup the pound land Mourinho turned to Balance Sheets to set the tone for the week ahead, it is hard to believe but it only made Clement sound more desperate and ridiculous.
🔵 “Maybe we need to say [the two games are] financially out of our league, but we’re going to compete”
Philippe Clement on how today’s result sets up Rangers for a huge week with matches against Spurs & Celtic next ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/MW2HkfdqmT
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 8, 2024
In the general media conference Clement described Spurs as one of the best clubs in the world…
Last season the Ibrox wagebill was larger than Celtic’s. Kemar Roofe, John Lundstram, Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic and Todd Cantwell have been moved on and replaced. Ridvan Yilmaz, Rabbi Matondo and Ben Davies will be draining wages this season and next.
Clement really should stick to the cliches. How about anything can happen on the day, it is 11 v 11 or when they cross the white line, that sort of stuff.
Even though the superiority complex around Ibrox is completely laughable it is real and out there. With every trophy that Celtic win the demand from loyal bears to ‘dae sumthin’ increases.
That mentality screws up a manager every autumn, Clement should have gone the same way after falling nine then 11 points behind Celtic but the absence of a CEO and Chairman has extended his tenure.
A CEO is incoming, scrutiny will arrive with eight points dropped over 14 games to clubs with far smaller budgets, clearly an issue that the Sky Sports reporter wasn’t going to throw back at the Ibrox boss.
There are still players at Ibrox pulling in more than £30,000 a week. On their own James Tavernier, Jack Butland and Danilo probably each earn more than the entire wage bill of Ross County.
In his mind Clement probably thinks that he is the smartest guy in Scottish football, lowering expectations to ensure his survival if things go wrong this week.
Next Monday Paddy Stewart starts work as the club’s latest CEO, his success largely depends on a manager already preparing for set-backs and defeats. Today’s comments will certainly define how Clement is remembered with a place in The Banter Years reserved alongside giants like Pedro Caixinha, Graeme Murty and Micky Beale.
At least he knows their place in the pecking order 😎
— Ibrox Meltdowns 😎 (@GreedyPete11) December 8, 2024
Damage control early. Fairs.
— -Bev–Bhoy-🏴 (@BevBhoy) December 8, 2024
Big Phil knows his place 🤪🤪🤪 pic.twitter.com/fI5XN8ASZk
— Michael (@Michael71917) December 8, 2024
Imagine your manager coming out wae this the week before a cup final when you’re 11 points behind in the league and 25 goals worse off! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 exuses before a baw has been kicked! More convinced than ever of a handing out a skelping next Sunday 😁😁
— DANNYBHOY88 (@Danielh15215783) December 8, 2024
Awkward…. pic.twitter.com/SEhkPYpXyZ
— Carltoncelts (@carltoncelts) December 8, 2024
See if rodgers came out with that he would be hunted and the papers would be all over it
— kate dunbar (@katedunbar61) December 8, 2024
Danilo £5m,Hagi £3.5m,Cerny a £8m winger on loan and Dessers £5M,Diomande £4.5 and Yilmaz £4m, Bajrami £3M on bench BTW 😂
— Run the show (@iRuntheshow1) December 8, 2024
Imagine talking about financial gulfs in a derby 😂 no wonder this loser has 4 defeats and a draw in his 5 games against us
— KR (@KR1888C) December 8, 2024
If that’s the case, we should be 3 points behind Celtic and not 11. Talking absolute drivel.
— C_22 (@douglas1_craig) December 8, 2024
Baldy Beale getting the excuses in already #fraud
— neil m 1967 (@neilybhoy67) December 8, 2024
Embarrassing. McFadden hit the nail on the head saying no difference between Ross County and Rangers with finances
— Paul (@originalLamo) December 8, 2024
Jesus Christ! Excuses in a week early 😂😂😂😂
— Kyogosleftfoot (@kyogosleftfoot) December 8, 2024
Can you imagine Walter Smith talking like this? Getting the excuses in before you’ve played? He had Brahim Hemdani and Jerome Rothen believing they could beat anyone in Europe.
“Aye Ready”? …Aye Right
— roolaing (@AndrewLain35747) December 8, 2024
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2 Comments
by Paul Aurige
Interesting stuff. I think Clemente’s comments compare well with what Martin O’Neill was saying the week.prior to Sunday 27 August 2000:
“Rangers are the benchmark against which we must test ourselves”
“They are a fine team and have a world class manager”
“Rangers have invested heavily and have several world class players in their line up”
He did say all these things. Result: Celtic 6 Rangers 2.
Don’t be fooled, unless you think “Martin must have been getting his excuses in early…”
by Editor
There is a huge difference. O’Neill said that ahead of his first Derby match, Clement is going into his sixth without a win. This is the fool that went on a chest thumping lap of honour in April then declared that a 3-3 draw was a moral victory.