He’s only been in charge of Rangers for a few months, but Philippe Clement has already accumulated a healthy collection of milestones.
A first trophy in the bag? Tick, captain marvel James Tavernier scoring the only goal of the game in December’s Scottish League Cup final victory over Aberdeen. Under Clement, Rangers also finished top of a difficult Europa League group, and have inserted themselves directly into the midst of an enthralling title fight.
Rangers, a few weeks ago, went top for the first time since August 2022.
A maiden Old Firm victory over bitter rivals Celtic, however, would perhaps be the biggest statement of intent of the Clement era so far. A result which would lift Rangers back above their green-clad neighbours, with a game in hand to boot, while making those in blue the favourites to claim only their second title since returning to the Premiership in 2016.
Rangers host Celtic in massive Old Firm derby
Kris Boyd, the Rangers legend, is backing Rangers to emerge triumphant. Not only on Sunday at Ibrox but in the league as a whole. But the former striker is not getting too carried away, however. Not with December’s 2-1 defeat at Parkhead – and Kyogo Furuhashi’s ferocious winning goal – still fresh in the mind.
“I do expect Rangers to win the league,” Boyd tells Sky Sports. “Given it’s an Old Firm game at home, you have to fancy them. Under Philippe Clement, Rangers have turned it around – they look a different team altogether. That home advantage could be key.
“But we’ve seen it before with Celtic. That pace up the top end of the pitch with Kyogo and Daizen Maeda. Rangers are going to have to defend really well. But I’m looking forward to it.
“Getting a first Old Firm win for Clement would be huge. Not only for himself, but in the context of the title race. Rangers are in a good place.”
Rangers have won only one of their last nine meetings with Celtic, a 3-0 win back in May 2023. Clement’s side were dragged back down to earth by Brendan Rodgers’ side last time out too, a Gers side struggling to rise to the occasion in December. They cannot afford to suffer from another bout of stage fright if Rangers are to move one big step closer to the title on Sunday.
Celtic talisman Furuhashi, meanwhile, has struggled to replicate his Ange Postecoglou-era form under Rodgers but has two winners in Old Firm derbies this season alone.
Brendan Rodgers vs Philippe Clement again
“If you look back to the first Old Firm match this season at Ibrox (in September), that fantastic Kyogo strike silenced Ibrox so it shows it can turn,” Boyd adds. “It can have its plus points but at the same time, it can go against you in exactly the same way it happened there. It’s up to Rangers to start the game positive and get the fans behind them.
“Since Philippe Clement has come in, the Rangers fans have seen a change and a shift. They’ve got behind the team a lot more.
“The frustrations were there before with Michael Beale, they’re not there anymore. It’s over to the players now to give the fans something to shout about on Sunday.”
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