'Real mess' – Chris Sutton questions Clement future at Rangers in new prediction

Chris Sutton has questioned if Rangers will give Philippe Clement the time he needs at Ibrox.

Making his Scottish Premiership predictions for Sky Sports (10 September), Sutton believes that the Gers will finish second behind Celtic, as questions emerge around Clement and his future.

Sutton argued that, unlike the messy situation in which he arrived at Ibrox, Clement now has full authority over his new-look side and must be able to compete with Celtic in the title race.

He said: “Philippe Clement says Rangers will get better but they are still a work in progress. There’s been such an overhaul and a messy summer, and they’re going to take time to gel.

“Whether Clement gets the time remains to be seen.

“It is fairer to judge Clement this season rather than last season when he inherited a real mess. This season it’s his team and there will be no excuses.”

Philippe Clement to come under pressure at Rangers

Given near-total authority over a massive summer rebuild at Ibrox, Clement cannot argue that he hasn’t been backed with new signings as he prepares for the Gers’ next matches after the international break.

With 11 new faces through the doors – two of whom spent parts of last season on loan at Ibrox – Clement has made valuable additions in almost every area of the pitch while clearing out 13 unwanted players.

Many of the Belgian’s new signings can be seen as project players who will indeed take time to gel, with little money to spend but results expected anyway.

A 3-0 loss to Celtic in the first Old Firm clash of the new season, Clement’s fourth loss from five winless attempts against the Hoops, made clear that the gap is a sizeable one which he must soon bridge.

A fight for the title – with Aberdeen also flying high with Celtic at the top – may seem unlikely at present, but Clement cannot afford to let his reshaped Light Blues fall too far behind the Premiership leaders [Hugh Keevens, 8 September].

In other Rangers news, Chris Jack said he would be “surprised” if one long-time Ibrox stalwart leaves the club in the coming days.

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