'Albatross hanging around his neck' - McGarry shares 'Wretched' Clement sack verdict at Rangers

Philippe Clement had an albatross hanging around his neck after a “thoroughly wretched” period prior to Rangers’ valiant Europa League draw at Olympiacos, John McGarry has said.

Cyriel Dessers cancelled out Ayoub El Kaabi’s opener at the Karaiskakis Stadium to earn a 1-1 draw on Thursday (7 November) to follow up a comeback 2-1 win over Motherwell in the Scottish League Cup semi-final.

As such, McGarry, writing for the Scottish Daily Mail (8 November, page 86), thinks Clement has bought himself some time having faced the prospect of the sack at Ibrox in a difficult campaign to date.

He wrote: “For three long months Philippe Clement’s claim that Rangers fans would see an improvement in their side by late October has been an albatross hanging around his neck.

“It if took the Belgian a little longer to deliver on that pledge than he hoped, none of the supporters who celebrated a prized point in the Europa League long into the night in the port of Piraeus will feel like upbraiding him on his tardiness.

“This was a fine outcome for the embattled Rangers manager. On the back of easing out Motherwell to reach the Premier Sports Cup final last weekend, his words of promise in the summer now don’t ring quite so hollow.

“After a thoroughly wretched period in which his credentials for the job had come under scrutiny this should buy him some time at least. The baying mob will have to stand down for now.”

Philippe Clement earns a stay of execution at Rangers

Philippe Clement and his Rangers side deserve big credit for the performance they put in at Olympiacos last night, it is an extremely difficult place to go and get a result and things could have been better in truth.

It means it has been a very good few days with the valiant draw coming on the back of eking out a result against Motherwell to set up a League Cup final showdown with rivals Celtic.

But the ills of the start of the season cannot be forgotten. The abysmal Old Firm defeat, the disappointments of losing at Aberdeen and Kilmarnock, being hammered by Lyon – all of which led to suggestions that it is time for a change in the dugout.

This is, right now, merely a stay of execution and Clement and his side have to show a more consistent improvement – especially away from Ibrox in the league.

The make-or-break could still wind up being that League Cup final but, credit where it’s due, this has been a good week for Rangers.

In other Rangers news, a James Tavernier conspiracy theory has been shared.

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