Philippe Clement gives Rangers title swagger and belief over sour Brendan Rodgers – Ewan Murray.
Rangers have been “completely rejuvenated” by Philippe Clement, and Ewan Murray claims the team now has the “swagger and belief of champions”.
The journalist wrote in his Guardian column on February 27 that with the Light Blues two points and six goals ahead of Celtic with 11 games remaining, it has left a “sour” Brendan Rodgers under pressure and forced to engage in “theatre, detached from sporting reality” after his recent controversy with BBC Scotland’s Jane Lewis.
However, Murray cited the Hoops’ head-to-head record this season as well as previous SPFL history as reasons to be optimistic, with Gers fans claimed to be “so giddy” that failure to win at this stage would be a huge spectacle.
He stated of the present league standing: “In other leagues, this would be no cause for concern, but the weakness of Scotland’s top division means Rodgers cannot rely on other teams taking points away from Rangers.
“Philippe Clement has absolutely revitalized the Ibrox side, to the point where they play with the swagger and confidence of champions.
“Celtic have two key elements on their side: successive and deserved victories over Rangers in the Premiership this season, and a level of recent title specialism not at all evident across the city.”
However, he cautioned: “Celtic’s fan base dread losing the league, whilst Rangers followers are confident they can win it. Those in blue are ecstatic, and it will be quite a spectacle if Clement does not finish the championship.”
And continued, “If Rodgers wins the league, he will feel empowered. In a Scottish context, considering Rangers’ strength and Celtic’s clear flaws, this would be his best success to date.”
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Of course the Gers fanbase is confident but few will be convinced that the race is over at this stage when they have had to endure domestic mediocrity over the past two seasons.
Clement has turned things around to a huge degree and it is clearly having an effect on his opposite number at Parkhead.
But the gap is still less than one win, so any slip-ups could still throw away the advantage that has been so hard-earned.
At this stage of his time at Ibrox it is Clement’s major unfulfilled requirement to turn the tables in Old Firm derbies, and if he can tick that off then it likely will bring the title back to Govan.
But until the Belgian succeeds in doing so it will likely keep the title race in the balance, however much Rodgers attempts to claim that everyone has already decided it.
The season has already been through one major reversal so it is far from iOf course, the Gers fans is confident, but few will believe the race is over at this point after suffering through domestic mediocrity for the last two seasons.
Clement has dramatically improved things, and it is evident that his opposite number at Parkhead is taking notice.
However, the deficit is still smaller than one win, so any slip-ups could cost them the hard-earned edge.
Clement’s main unfulfilled criteria at this point in his career at Ibrox is to flip the tables in Old Firm derbies, and if he can do that, Govan will most certainly reclaim the title.
However, unless the Belgian succeeds, the title race will most certainly remain undecided, regardless of Rodgers’ claims that everyone has already decided.
Rangers have already had one significant reversal this season, so a second is feasible, regardless of their present performance.mpossible for a second to materialise, no matter how impressive Rangers currently look.
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