'Massive Blow' - Pundit reacts as Rangers hit by Tottenham & Celtic issue

Rangers have suffered a “massive blow” in their fixture scheduling as they now face Tottenham and Celtic in the space of four days next month, says Alan Rough.

Speaking on PLZ Soccer on 4 November, after the Light Blues booked their place in an Old Firm League Cup final with a 2-1 win over Motherwell a day earlier, the ex-Scotland keeper said the upcoming double-header on 12 and 15 December is something that any team would struggle with.

Tam McManus doesn’t think Gers fans will be looking forward to another tilt against their Glasgow rivals in the final thanks to the relative strength of either side right now, and Rough feels the Spurs test coming immediately before hand makes it far worse.

McManus suggested (27m): “They’ve got a massive test coming up in the final against a Celtic team that’s firing on all cylinders.

“There’ll be a lot of Rangers supporters not looking forward to that final.”

While Rough later asked (30m 40s): “Am I right in saying they play Tottenham three days before that cup final? That’s a massive blow to any team.”

Philippe Clement under major pressure at Rangers

The reality of the situation for Rangers and struggling manager Philippe Clement is that escaping a defeat that some feel would have got him sacked in the semi has only stored up a daunting prospect in the final.

The Belgian has so far failed to beat Brendan Rodgers in five Glasgow derbies, and after the Hoops trounced Aberdeen 6-0 in the other semi there won’t be high hopes for success in his sixth attempt.

He is facing major pressure on his job after losing to the Dons, who are nine points ahead in the Scottish Premiership and level with Celtic, so a chastening defeat on the return to Hampden on 15 December will only increase calls for him to go, assuming he is in charge at that point.

It appears he will be, barring something unexpected, as the Ibrox hierarchy have seemingly committed to long-term support come what may this season, and next [BBC Sport, 1 November], as they attempt to break the cycle of hiring a new manager every season.

This Gers side probably wouldn’t be expected to get much out of Spurs anyway, but the fact the Premier League side are managed by former Parkhead nemesis Ange Postecoglou only adds to the potential headache in six weeks time.

A defeat to the London side would be unwelcome but not unexpected, although a hammering at the hands of the Australian won’t go down well.

And if the Light Blues’ exploits in the Europa League clash at Ibrox have a negative knock-on effect on their attempt to defend the League Cup just three days later it will be a miserable week in Govan.

Rangers have no choice but to see both games as opportunities to right some wrongs and change the narrative around them, but confidence among the fanbase is low that the current side are equipped to do so.

In other Rangers news, Ianis Hagi is back in the Light Blues reserves again following his exile this summer.

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