Rangers have lived in the shadow of Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic teams for so long they must have developed a vitamin D deficiency by now. D for domineered.
But after the draw against Spurs in the Europa League and a run of four domestic wins, with 15 goals scored in the process, Philippe Clement today stands on the verge of revising history. A Premier Sports Cup Final win over his greatest rivals would transform the manager from pariah to messiah. And change travesty to majesty where his once- ridiculed set of players are concerned.
Rangers’ AGM two weeks ago offered nothing in the way of an imminent solution to the club’s long-standing problems on and off the park. The menu on offer from the top table at the Armadillo in Glasgow was pie in the sky for the main course with jam tomorrow for pudding. But this afternoon at Hampden is a chance for the club in general, and the manager in particular, to restore their pride and relevance after spending the earlier part of the season diminishing their reputation on the back of risible displays.
Or does it? I sat beside a Rangers shareholder at a charity lunch 10 days ago. A lifelong fan and a man of substantial means who was as sensible as they come.
His considered point of view was that a Rangers win at the national stadium could actually be seen in a negative light. Because it would guarantee Clement remaining in office until the end of the season.
When a Rangers win over Celtic can be seen in anything other that a positive perspective you know Philippe is a walking contradiction in the eyes of his club’s support. But, whether it is positive, negative or a source of perplexity that passes beyond human understanding, one thing’s for sure.
A win for Clement is infinitely better than a defeat that would plunge his personal stock to an all-time low. When Rangers drew with Dundee United at Ibrox last month, prompting audible and visible distress inside the stadium, the Belgian admitted he had run out of credit with the club’s fans.
A loss to Celtic today is the emotional equivalent of filing for bankruptcy and submitting a winding-up order. Thursday night’s result would be of no satisfaction as Spurs would be seen for what they were – weak of mind and character.
Clement would also have to choose his words carefully while being back in the dock. When I refer to Celtic as “the team across the road on the other side of the city” it is for comedic effect.
A tribute of sorts to the legions of radio callers who, over the years, cannot bring themselves to refer to their ancient adversaries by name. Big Phil got in on the game when he referenced the team “from the other side of town” at a recent press conference.
Whether he was trying to ingratiate himself with supporters or whether he thinks that’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re a man in his position, there is an irrefutable fact of the matter.
He won’t be a man in his position on a long-term basis if Celtic win the cup, even if the inscriber puts “team across the road on the other side of the city” on the plinth where the winners’ names are displayed. Clement suffers from a condition known as logorrhoea – simply put, excessive talkativeness.
He was at it again on Thursday night, when he went off at a tangent and started to talk about cooking lessons for single players at Ibrox. But he will be free to indulge himself if Rangers win the first prize of the season at Celtic’s expense.
He could talk for a week and the Ibrox fans wouldn’t care because they’d be too busy celebrating. Lose, however, and a brooding silence comes over one half of a city.
What determines the mood will be whether or not Rangers can bring their European intensity to a domestic match.