GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 11: Rangers Manager Philippe Clement watches on as Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers and Alex Rae exchenge words during a cinch Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, on May 11, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Phil Clement has started the build up to the League Cup Final by claiming that Celtic are financially in a different league to his club.
There can be no argument that Thursday’s Europa League opponents, Spurs are vastly richer than any club in Scotland but from within the same city, playing in the same domestic competitions the claim from the Ibrox boss is harder to justify.
Since taking over from Micky Beale in October 2023 Clement has played Celtic five times with one draw and four defeats to Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Celtic hold an 11 point advantage in the SPFL Premiership but at Hampden on Sunday it is a fresh start for the two managers to go head to head to lift the first trophy of the season.
? “Maybe we need to say [the two games are] financially out of our league, but we’re going to compete”
Philippe Clement on how today’s result sets up Rangers for a huge week with matches against Spurs & Celtic next ?? pic.twitter.com/MW2HkfdqmT
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 8, 2024
Asked about his side’s next two matches Clement seemed to get the excuses in early, telling Sky Sports:
They are totally different kind of games. Maybe we need to say financially out of our league, the two games.
We’re going to compete in that way and it’s a really nice challenge for our squad to show themselves in these games and what we can do against those teams.
There used to be a favoured old football cliche that it was 11 against 11 but it seems that Clement has pushed that aside to concentrate on balance sheets.
With Celtic competing in exactly the same environment they have simply been better run than their city rivals, celebrating more income from the same streams.
Since Rodgers took over Celtic he has seen Jota, Carl Starfelt, Aaron Mooy, Joe Hart and Jota leave the club, recruitment and finding replacements comes down to talent and judgement, Celtic’s record signing, Arne Enge played under Clement at Club Brugge.
During the summer Clement spent heavily on Mohamed Diomande, Jefte, Robin Propper, Hamza Igamane and Nedim Bajrami topped by a loan deal for Oscar Cortes with a commitment to buy the winger next summer.
Big Ange is in soapy bubble,he is one game away from the bullet aka his P45,I just hope it’s not the sevco team or klub that inflict it on him,though right now I would back sevco.
He is SKATING ON THIN ICE,and this bravado talk about not listening to the fans it’s the board he listens to,he really is pushing the boat out with that sh**e,talking like a cardboard gangster.
He better get his act together for Thursday if he is still the Spurs manager by then,because the klan klub and it’s supporters would love nothing better than them being the cause of him getting his P45 and the press up here would be feeding off it for the rest of the season.
It could well be a BIG DONALD for BIG ANGE,BYE BYE.
This CLOWN is STARK RAVING BONKERS.. AN ABSOLUTE FUKIN FRUITCAKE LOONBIN LOL! Talks UTTER SHITE Wk on Wk & Actually BELIEVES the PISH he Spouts BAWAHAHAHAHAHA!! Trust me a wk 2mro he’s GONE!!
Aye – Well He has a helluva lot more cash than Kilmarnock, Aberdeen, Hearts, Dundee United etc who’ve who he’s dropped ten points to alone this season…
Betcha Fillipe Fillop didn’t mention that though !