Sport nationBBC pundit Stephen McGinn has criticized Rangers manager Philippe Clement for his approach to the recent match against Celtic. McGinn argued that Clement’s decision to rest key players in the lead-up to the match was a short-sighted tactic that ultimately proved unsuccessful.
McGinn stated, “He sacrificed the week before the derby just to win the Celtic game. That’s not how it works at Rangers. Every game is as important as the other.” McGinn’s comments suggest that Clement’s approach was overly focused on beating Celtic, rather than considering the broader context of the season.
McGinn also expressed doubts about Clement’s long-term prospects at Rangers, saying, “I just don’t know what’s going to change long-term with Philippe Clement. They have big days, but the bread and butter is to try and win the league back from Celtic.”
In contrast, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers was pleased with his team’s performance and the 13-point lead they have established at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. Rodgers stated, “We’re in a really good place… We’ve had a great pre-season, a fantastic European campaign, and we’ve won the first cup of the season. To arrive at the halfway point with this lead makes us very happy.”
The comments from McGinn and Rodgers highlight the differing fortunes of the two Glasgow clubs. While Rangers are struggling to keep pace with Celtic, the Hoops are looking increasingly likely to win the league title. With the transfer window open, Rangers may need to make some significant signings if they hope to close the gap on Celtic.
Sport nation