Kris Boyd has warned Rangers manager Phil Clement that he will be under immense pressure if he fails to win against Celtic in their upcoming match. Clement has been in charge of Rangers for 14 months but has yet to record a win over Celtic.
“Gers have now played eight away games in the Premiership — and lost four of them. They’ve dropped 14 points in those fixtures and have a goal difference on the road of MINUS ONE. This is Rangers we’re talking about — you don’t hear Clement speaking about budgets, like he did before Spurs and Celtic, with regards to that dismal record,” Boyd said in an interview with The Sun.
Boyd also questioned the value for money provided by some of Rangers’ players, including Oscar Cortes, Rabbi Matondo, and Kieran Dowell. “There has been a lot of change at Ibrox, but has the Belgian assembled a squad that is ever going to be good enough, or care enough? Again, maybe I’m old-fashioned, but it seems to me that some of these players are coasting, happy to pick up the biggest wage of their careers at the biggest club they will ever be at. Are Oscar Cortes, Rabbi Matondo and Kieran Dowell providing value for money?” Boyd asked.
The pressure on Clement will intensify if Rangers lose to Celtic, and Boyd believes that he will be lucky to survive if that happens. “Now Rangers move on to Motherwell at Fir Park tomorrow and you’ll be lucky to find anyone who would bet any of their hard-earned cash on them winning. Then it’s Celtic at Ibrox in the second league derby of the season, when you can be sure Brendan Rodgers will be telling his players to go in for the kill. Clement will hope to pull a result out of the bag — but if he loses yet another Old Firm game, there is no way he should survive it,” Boyd warned.
Boyd’s comments will add to the scrutiny on Clement and his team as they prepare for the crucial match against Celtic. The match against Celtic will be a significant test for Clement and his team. Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side will be looking to capitalize on Rangers’ struggles and extend their lead at the top of the table.
Boyd’s comments will be closely watched by Rangers fans, who are growing increasingly frustrated with the team’s performances. The pressure is mounting on Clement, and he will need to deliver a strong result against Celtic to alleviate some of the criticism.
In related news, Chris Sutton, a former Celtic player, will be part of the Sky Sports team providing commentary and analysis for the match. Sutton is known for his candid opinions, and his presence will add to the lively debate and discussion surrounding the match.
Overall, the stage is set for a thrilling and intense match between Rangers and Celtic. The pressure is on Clement and his team to deliver a strong performance, and the consequences of failure could be severe.