Ally McCoist believes that Rangers manager Philippe Clement could be under significant pressure following the team’s 3-0 loss to Celtic on Sunday. The defeat has added to what has been a challenging start to the 2024/25 season for Rangers, who were knocked out of Champions League qualifying and now find themselves trailing Celtic by five points in the league.
The Gers have struggled in recent Old Firm encounters, winning just one of their last 12 meetings with Celtic—a 3-0 victory at Ibrox in May 2023. McCoist, a former Rangers player and manager, suggests that this poor record against their rivals could have serious implications for Clement’s tenure, even if the rest of the season goes well.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday, McCoist expressed his concerns: “You can beat Ross County 6-0, you can even go on a European run. We saw that Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who I believe should still be at the club, got to a European final and was dismissed. It was because the team across the city was doing better than him. That’s how simple it is with the Old Firm and Celtic.”
McCoist highlighted the unique pressures of managing Rangers, where success is often measured against the performance of Celtic. He compared Clement’s situation to that of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, noting the different standards in the Old Firm rivalry. “Ten Hag at Manchester United is a bit different. They looked elsewhere, couldn’t find anyone, and decided to show faith in him after a cup win. I couldn’t pick one to say that either is under more pressure than the other, but believe me, both of them are under pressure,” McCoist added.
As Rangers look to bounce back from their early-season setbacks, the pressure on Clement to deliver results, especially in Old Firm clashes, is mounting.