Gary McAllister believes that the success of Rangers under Philippe Clement ultimately hinges on clinching the Premiership title, or does it? Despite already securing the Viaplay Cup in December, Clement’s squad now eyes a potential domestic cup double following their 2-0 victory over Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final. The upcoming clash against Celtic in the final on May 25 presents a significant opportunity for the Belgian manager.
Arriving at Ibrox with Rangers trailing their arch-rivals by eight points, Clement’s team mounted a strong comeback during the winter months to rekindle their title hopes. However, recent setbacks like a disappointing loss to Ross County and a frustrating draw against Dundee have cast a shadow over their championship pursuit. With Celtic now holding a three-point advantage, the pressure is mounting as Rangers head into the final stretch of the season.
Former assistant manager McAllister, part of the coaching setup that guided Rangers to their historic 55th league title in 2021 under Steven Gerrard’s leadership, emphasizes that clubs like Rangers are primarily judged on their ability to secure league championships. Reflecting on the situation, he remarked, “I think the metric is always the league. While winning trophies is a significant achievement, league titles hold a special prestige for major clubs.”
McAllister acknowledges that claiming two cup victories in his debut season at the helm would be a positive outcome for Clement. Nevertheless, he underscores the club’s unwavering ambition to reclaim the league title from their rivals. He emphasized, “I believe so, but deep down, everyone—from the players to the management and the ownership—harbors ambitions of clinching the league. It echoes the scenario when Steven (Gerrard) and our team entered the scene from down south.”
Reflecting on past experiences, he added, “We faced a considerable gap behind Celtic initially, but our primary focus was on winning the league title. While our cup performances were not stellar, capturing the title was our paramount objective.”