Philippe Clement left television pundits in stitches as he humorously deflected questions about the ongoing title race. The Belgian tactician, who has enjoyed a sensational start to his tenure at Ibrox, orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, clinching victory at Hampden and erasing Celtic’s seven-point lead after an impressive 14-game unbeaten streak.
The pivotal moment of the cup final came with James Tavernier’s decisive goal, sparking jubilant scenes at the national stadium. Furthermore, Rangers received an unexpected boost as Celtic suffered a shocking 2-0 defeat at home to Hearts the day before. This defeat meant that Rangers could now potentially overtake Brendan Rodgers’ side in the league standings by winning their two games in hand.
Dodds, who also presents on Rangers TV, inquired, “Now that the final is behind you, are you able to refocus on the league table? Obviously, there were some interesting results yesterday. Does it have a different complexion if you can take advantage of the games in hand?”
Clement, drawing laughter from pundits Ally McCoist, Derek McInnes, and Scott Arfield, responded, “Yeah, you are already more down to earth than me! That’s a really tough question one hour after the cup final. I want to enjoy it a little bit, and then maybe I’ll have a better indication about that. But this evening, I think it’s really important that the lads enjoy. They need to enjoy this evening. From tomorrow, I will be with my serious face again.”
In a lighthearted conclusion to the post-match interview, Dodds chuckled, saying, “Well, I’m definitely not one to stand in the way of a celebration, so enjoy Philippe. Thanks very much.”
The banter continued as Gers legend McCoist couldn’t resist a cheeky dig, poking fun at Dodds as his “party popper” colleague. Dodds responded with laughter, saying, “I know, I’ve never been accused of that in my life!” The exchange added a touch of humor to the post-cup final celebrations, showcasing the camaraderie and joy within the Rangers camp.