Analysing Philippe Clement’s Tenure at Rangers: Pressure and Expectations

Rangers are currently under a huge amount of scrutiny and mounting pressure, especially centred around their manager, Philippe Clement, as they have already fallen to a five point gap behind rivals Celtic. In a recent interview with EPL Index, football legend Ally McCoist shared his insights into the tests currently facing Clement at Rangers. His reflections shed light on a situation that many fans and pundits are watching closely.

Management Challenges in Modern Football

Clement’s situation at Rangers is a situation that many modern football managers can relate to. “I’ve got a great deal of sympathy for Clement and I understand the pressures that he’s under,” McCoist said, emphasising the empathy he feels towards Clement. The complexities of managing a top-tier football club are vast, particularly at a club with the historical stature and fan expectations of Rangers.

Navigating through internal challenges can be as difficult as match day tactics, as McCoist pointed out. “But I also understand that until recently he has had no chairman and no chief executive, so the whole structure around him completely disintegrated.” This lack of stability can cause problems for even the most experienced managers. The structure of a club is crucial for consistent performances, and without it, even the best strategies can falter.

Recruitment and Squad Strength

Another critical aspect that often determines a manager’s success is recruitment. Clement, according to McCoist, walked into a scenario where “The recruitment before he arrived wasn’t good enough so it’s difficult to give an opinion on somebody until he has been able to put his own team out there.” This is a significant handicap for any manager striving to imprint their philosophies and ideas onto a team. Without the right players to execute one’s vision, achieving on-pitch success becomes a steep uphill battle.

The recent performance against Celtic highlighted this issue starkly. McCoist pointed out, “The result and performance at Celtic showed us that there’s a big gap and that has to be closed sooner rather than later.” The Old Firm derby is not just a game; it’s a test for a team’s calibre against their arch-rivals, and evidently, Rangers have serious ground to make up.

Support and Future Outlook

Despite the challenges, there is a silver lining with Clement signing a new long-term contract. McCoist remarked, “He’s just signed a new long-term contract, so at the moment we’ve got to get behind him.” This move signifies the club’s trust in Clement’s long-term vision and offers a glimmer of stability that can help steady the ship and McCoist is keen to encourage supporters to follow that trust.

However, optimism among supporters, including McCoist, is cautious at best when it comes to any hope of a serious title challenge. “Even at this stage my optimism has been stretched to the limits. Celtic are much stronger and it’s a real shame to say at this stage of the season that it would be staggering if Rangers win the league.” It’s a candid admission of the current power dynamics in Scottish football, acknowledging Celtic’s dominance.

The road ahead for Philippe Clement is full of challenges yet filled with opportunities. The backing from the club’s hierarchy with a new contract is a positive step, but the real work begins on the training ground and in the boardroom with strategic recruitments.