Philippe Clement Discusses Rangers Future Following League Cup Final Loss To Celtic

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Philippe Clement acknowledged that his tenure with Rangers was nearing its end following their loss to Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final. The defeat, which ended in a penalty shoot-out after a 3-3 draw, saw Daizen Maeda score the decisive spot-kick for Celtic. Clement felt this match was pivotal, stating, "I had a feeling, a bad feeling, after the League Cup final."

Clement was dismissed in February after a surprising 2-0 defeat to St. Mirren, leaving Rangers trailing Celtic by 13 points in the Premiership race. Despite winning five consecutive league matches before this loss, pressure on Clement had been mounting. He remarked that winning the League Cup could have bought him more time with both fans and the board.

Rangers' journey in European competitions under Clement saw them reach the Europa League's last 16 before being eliminated by Athletic Bilbao in April. However, their domestic campaign ended poorly, finishing 17 points behind Celtic under interim manager Barry Ferguson. Clement expressed regret over not having more time to close the gap on Celtic.

Celtic's dominance in Scottish football is evident as they have clinched 14 of the last 15 league titles and secured five domestic trebles during this period. Clement believed that with patience and strategic player development over three or four transfer windows, Rangers could have challenged Brendan Rodgers' side effectively.

Reflecting on his time at Ibrox, Clement said, "It's a pity that the story stopped... In three or four windows, we could have closed the gap [to Celtic] with a good development of players." He lamented that other clubs often endure tough times but eventually succeed by sticking together.

Performance Record and Club Statement

During his stint at Rangers, Clement achieved 55 wins out of 86 games, alongside 16 draws and 15 losses. The club announced his departure via Twitter: "Rangers Football Club can confirm it has tonight parted company with men's first-team manager, Philippe Clement." They thanked him for his dedication during his tenure.

Despite these challenges, Clement remains optimistic about what could have been achieved if given more time. His belief in closing the gap with Celtic highlights his confidence in his team's potential growth and development.