'Losing his grip on reality' – Gary Keown baffled by Clement's post-Old Firm Rangers comments

Rangers manager Philippe Clement’s comments after their 3-0 defeat to Celtic suggest he is “on a hiding to nothing”, according to Gary Keown.

Writing in the Scottish Sunday Mail (8 September, page 91), Keown argued that Clement’s reference to the Gers’ 6-0 win over Ross County in the wake of an Old Firm thrashing was a worrying sign.

The Light Blues were well beaten at Celtic Park and second-best in every department, with Keown suggesting that Clement could be on thin ice if such excuses follow after bad performances.

Keown said: “Clement standing outside Ibrox after last weekend’s horrific three-goal reverse to Celtic and babbling on about irrelevant stats to an irate collection of supporters; it cannot be long until it all boils over at Rangers.

“Clement is on a hiding to nothing with the squad of players he is being asked to work with there, but he is only going to speed up his own demise by jabbering on about how taking six off Ross County was one of the best results of the past four years.

“He came across as a bloke losing his grip on reality as Rangers’ endeavours to win the title last term foundered — and, this season, has offered little to suggest he has regained a handle on the job.”

Philippe Clement has to produce quick-fire Rangers response

The Gers have hardly been in sterling form by the time they arrived at Celtic Park “on a hiding to nothing”, playing out a drab 0-0 draw with Hearts in their Premiership opener before back-to-back wins.

Clement’s side had also been knocked out of Champions League qualifying contention over two legs by Dynamo Kyiv before facing Celtic, and sit fourth in the table with the international break underway.

Facing third-place Dundee United in their first game back – and with a five-point gap to joint-leaders Celtic and Aberdeen to close – the Light Blues must come out firing once they return to domestic action.

With their 6-0 win over Ross County seemingly being the level of result and performance that Clement wants his side to reach, they must be much-improved from their lacklustre showing at Parkhead.

The Bears have little room for manoeuvre as Celtic and Aberdeen threaten to pull away at the top of the Premiership table, and with tougher tests ahead, Clement’s side have to get back to winning ways.

In other Rangers news, the Gers have been linked with a veteran international defender if one of their long-serving players departs.

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