Rangers manager Philippe Clement looks on during the Rangers v Dundee – Premier Sports Cup Quarter Final match at Ibrox Stadium on September 21, 2…Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Philippe Clement accuses some Rangers fans of ‘overstepping the line’ after win v Dundee
Sun 22 September 2024 09:35
Cameron Willis
Straight-talking Philippe Clement has never been one to mince his words at Rangers.
Whilst the Belgian boss will always protect his players from the criticism of the media or the Ibrox support, Clement is never shy to speak his mind.
Over his 11 months in Glasgow the ex-Club Brugge manager has proven himself a shrewd operator with the media and did so once again as Rangers dumped Dundee.
But speaking after the Premier Sports Cup victory, Clement took the opportunity to criticise some members of the Rangers support for the treatment of one player in particular.
READ MORE: Rangers player ratings v Dundee: 4/10 hooked at half-time
James Tavernier of Rangers celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal from the penalty spot goal during the Rangers v Dundee – Premier Sports…
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
James Tavernier criticism ‘overstepped’ mark
What a challenging few weeks it’s been for Rangers captain James Tavernier.
As Philippe Clement tries to fuse together a new-look Ibrox squad, the Gers skipper has bore the brunt of any early criticism with familiarity truly breeding contempt.
Tavernier’s routinely flailing performances in the face of Celtic’s Daizen Maeda have also drawn huge criticism with the right-back toiling in recent Old Firm clashes.
Following the devastating 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Parkhead side, Tavernier was the subject of fierce criticism online whilst a clip of a supporter abusing the skipper outside Ibrox went viral.
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On the club’s long-awaited return to Ibrox Stadium against Dundee, James Tavernier got up and running for the season with his first strike of the campaign in the 3-0 win.
Speaking after the match, Philippe Clement paid tribute to his captain and bit back at those Rangers supporters who’ve recently ‘overstepped the mark’ with criticism.
@RangersFC manager Philippe Clement gives his verdict on his side’s return to Ibrox with a Quarter-Final victory
“It felt like 10 years that we were not here…like the feeling of only playing away games.”” ️#PremierSportsCup pic.twitter.com/ACHZMIXAiQ
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 21, 2024
View Tweet
“Of course it’s not nice when you get stick,” Clement told Premier Sports. “But it’s part of being a captain.
“And for sure in the society now, things have changed from the past.
“So it was a good moment also, he felt the praise also of all the fans.
“Today when the things go well, it’s a good life to be a captain of Rangers but when things don’t go well it’s less good.
“But it needs to stay respectful. So some people overstepped the line.
“You can be critical, you can be unhappy about things, but you cannot cross a certain line.
“But it is like that and he took it in the right way with only hunger and desire to become better as a team and to work hard with all the lads in training and to raise the level.
“That’s what Tav is about, it’s what I expect from him also. It’s what I expect from a captain.
“I’ve been in the same situation before in Brugge.
“In the good periods being captain was really nice, OK in the difficult moments you need to stand on the barricades to protect everything and that’s what he’s been doing.”
Rangers manager draws line on return to Ibrox
Rangers manager Philippe Clement knows when to take his moment in the media and, make no mistake, he has done so here.
Amid the furore of the post-Old Firm reaction the Ibrox boss was calm and collected when pressed on the vociferous criticism of James Tavernier.
But after the skipper’s goal and upon the return to Ibrox, this a huge show of support from the Rangers gaffer who has also sent a clear message to the club’s fans.
Whilst paying Rangers supporters are well within their rights to express criticism and concerns, there is a line, and personal abuse and aggression towards players cannot be tolerated.
Let’s hope a line can now be drawn under the incident and the Rangers support get behind James Tavernier who is clearly a vital part of Philippe Clement’s plans in Glasgow.
The Rangers captain was also mobbed by his teammates after scoring the second goal of the game v Dundee, in a clear show of support for the right-back.
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