Clement’s old boss urges Rangers to back ‘smart’ manager
Philippe Clement’s old boss has urged Rangers to stick with him.
Philippe Clement’s old boss has urged Rangers to stick with him. (Image: Alan Harvey – SNS Group)
Philippe Clement’s old boss has told Rangers to stick with him despite mounting pressure.
Georges Leekens gave Clement his first Belgium cap in 1998 and brought him to Club Brugge as his number two 14 years later.
Having worked with Clement both as a player and coach, Leekens reckons Rangers have to get behind him and let him finish the job he started: “I have known Philippe for a long time,” the 75-year-old told SunSport.
“He played for me with Belgium, then I brought him in as a coach with Brugge.
“He was a smart player and he is a smart coach — and Rangers are his life right now.
“Philippe puts everything into his work, and I have seen him develop as a coach, winning titles in Belgium.”
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Results haven’t gone the way of Clement and Co. this season.
Although they’ve had an impressive Europa League campaign so far, Rangers have been continually inconsistent on the domestic front.
They are currently 13 points behind Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership and lost 1-0 to Championship side Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.
Leekens, however, has urged supporters to not just consider the here and now: “I understand there are critics right now after the last defeat in the cup, but there is a bigger picture,” he said.
“This is the time when the people running Rangers need to stay strong behind Philippe. They need to stick together.
“In difficult periods, there has to be even more support of what he is doing, and the difficult task he has been given. He will get through this period. Philippe will understand the critics, as that is part of the job.
“But he will also work hard to get over this period and show that he can be a successful Rangers coach.”
Leekens’ backing comes after it was revealed that Patrick Stewart and the Rangers hierarchy are keeping Clement in his post because there is ‘so much else to fix’ in the club’s footballing department, and not due to financial issues.
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