Philippe Clement criticized Celtic rival Brendan Rodgers for what he perceived as a lack of respect shown towards his Rangers team. The tension escalated when Rodgers expressed his eagerness for ‘a bit of fun’ at Parkhead in the upcoming match, setting the stage for a potentially decisive encounter.
Following Rangers’ 4-1 victory over Kilmarnock, narrowing the gap to Celtic to just three points, Clement responded strongly to Rodgers’ comments. He voiced his disapproval, stating, “That is something that I would never say about an opponent. It’s not really respectful towards my team. That is what I think. So I will never say things like that about an opponent.”
Rangers faced a tough start against Kilmarnock, with captain James Tavernier scoring an own goal early on. Despite complications with a VAR check and a red card for Kilmarnock, Rangers persevered and managed to level the score just before halftime through Fabio Silva. Defender Ben Davies, who came on as a halftime substitute, scored his first goal for Rangers, breaking Kilmarnock’s defense. Late goals from Tom Lawrence and John Souttar further closed the gap between Rangers and Celtic.
Despite the uphill battle ahead and the potential significance of the upcoming match, Clement remained resolute, emphasizing the importance of resilience and teamwork. He affirmed, “We are going to fight until the very end… The basic of being a team and becoming a good team is to never give up.”
Expressing his hunger and anticipation for the upcoming clash, Clement reflected on the challenges posed by injuries within the team but remained optimistic about the players stepping up when needed. Ben Davies, marking his return from a long injury layoff, shared his joy about scoring his first goal for Rangers, highlighting his perseverance through setbacks and the support he received from his teammates and manager.
As the season approached its climax, both teams prepared to face off in what promised to be a decisive battle for the title, with tensions running high and the stakes elevated for both sides.
