Philippe Clement has been told Tottenham and Celtic clashes just three days apart is Rangers’ worst nightmare.
Ange Postecoglou returns to Ibrox with his Spurs side in the Europa League before Rangers and the Hoops go head to head at Hampden in the Premier Sports Cup Final. Michael Stewart reckons it is a monumental period for the Light Blues with the pundit citing two fears over both games as Belgian boss Clement faces a huge call of his team selections. The former Hearts and Hibs man can’t think of a more unfavourable two games back to back.
Fellow pundit Alan Hutton – speaking on the Scottish Football Social Club – doesn’t think his old club have the quality or personnel at this stage to rotate like rivals Celtic did in the weekend hammering of Ross County. Confidence will be key for the showpiece at Hampden in a fortnight and that is the game the former Rangers defender reckons is the ‘big one’. He knows how important Europe ranks on the agenda but putting a marker on your biggest rival for the first trophy on offer is huge.
Stewart said: “That three days in the middle of December is absolutely monumental for Rangers. They are doing well in the Europa League and wondering what do they do with that Spurs game?
“Let’s be honest, there is a fear that if they don’t perform they could be on a hiding potentially. Three days before a cup final against their biggest rivals.
“If you play your strongest team in that game, how well prepared are you for the cup final where there is equally a fear that some folk are thinking it could be a hiding in the cup final as well? You really couldn’t wish for a worse two games. Ange Postecoglou going back to Ibrox..”
Hutton added: “It’s a huge game. Confidence is the big thing for me. I don’t think at this moment in time they have the squad depth and strength to rotate the way they would really want to.
“Look at Celtic, A hard European game, a game at the weekend then moving into the Aberdeen game. Brendan is looking at his squad, rotates it knowing it is still goo enough to win. I just don’t think Rangers are at that stage at this moment in time.”
“It is a conundrum he is going to have to deal with. He won’t want to get a heavy defeat against Tottenham.
“Ange is going to come up and have his team right up for it. But for me the cup final is the big one. That’s absolute huge. Europe is as well but the cup final, first trophy of the season against your biggest rivals you need to go and put a marker down at some stage.”