Ex- Rangers manager Philippe Clement delivered a fiery and emotionally charged outburst during a live panel discussion following Rangers’ 3–1 loss to Celtic
Scottish football fans were left speechless after former Rangers manager Philippe Clement delivered a fiery and emotionally charged outburst during a live panel discussion following Rangers’ 3–1 loss to Celtic. His remarks reignited old wounds and revealed the depth of his frustration with the club that dismissed him nearly a year ago.
Clement, who was sacked by Rangers in early 2025 after a run of inconsistent performances, made no attempt to hide his bitterness. Speaking on BBC Sportscene, he tore into the club’s leadership, recruitment and lack of vision, claiming that Rangers have failed to learn anything since his departure.
“I said it when I left, and I’ll say it again. This club keeps making the same mistakes,” Clement fumed. “You can sack the manager, you can change the staff, but if the player is weak and no plans to do the needful, the house will always fall. That is what is happening now again.”
The Belgian, who guided Rangers to a League Cup triumph and a Europa League knockout berth before his dismissal, appeared visibly emotional as he dissected the team’s latest collapse at Celtic Park.
Rangers’ defeat, was another painful reminder of the club’s struggles. Despite two managerial changes since Clement’s exit, the Ibrox side continue to trail Celtic in both performance and mentality.
“It is not about who is on the touchline,” Clement said. “It is about leadership and culture. I warned them. I told the board what needed to change. But they did not listen, and now look where they are.”
A Club Stuck in Repeat Mode
Since Clement’s departure, Rangers have cycled through one interim and two managers, both tasked with restoring dominance and closing the gap on Celtic. Yet results have barely improved. The team’s inconsistency, lack of cutting edge and fragile confidence have left fans frustrated and divided.
Sunday’s 3–1 defeat was the latest in a long list of disappointments. Celtic dominated possession, pressed relentlessly and punished every defensive lapse. Rangers’ lone consolation goal came late from captain James Tavernier, long after the match had slipped away.
As post-match analysis unfolded, Clement’s voice cracked with a mix of anger and sadness.
“When I see this,” he said, gesturing toward the replay of Celtic’s third goal, “I see a club that has lost its identity. I built a plan. It was not perfect, but it was direction. Now it is chaos again. You cannot build success by starting over every few months.”
Fans React with Shock and Support
Social media exploded within minutes of the broadcast. Hashtags such as #ClementRant and #RangersCrisis began trending across X, formerly known as Twitter, as thousands of supporters debated his comments.
One fan posted, “Say what you want about Clement, but he is right. We have had two managers since him and we are still falling apart.”
Another wrote, “He sounds bitter, but who can blame him? He was right all along. It is the same problems, just new faces.”
Others, however, felt his comments crossed a line. “He is still angry about being sacked. Fair enough, but this helps no one. It is time to move on,” one supporter said.
Many pundits sympathized with Clement’s frustration. A Fiery Reminder of a Broken System
Clement’s outburst has reignited debate over Rangers’ long-term direction. Since Steven Gerrard’s title-winning season in 2021, the club has lurched between rebuilds without finding consistency. Clement’s tenure was meant to bring stability, but like his successors, he was undone by short-term fixes and mounting pressure.
Even now, his words serve as a warning.
“I wanted to build something,” he said quietly toward the end of the segment. “But when you try to build in a storm, you need support from above. I did not have that. Maybe the next man will not either.”
His tone softened as he concluded, but the sting of truth remained.
“I will always respect the fans. They are incredible. But until the people running this club start listening instead of reacting, Rangers will keep losing the same way.”
As the broadcast ended, the studio fell silent. It was a rare moment of stillness in the chaos of Scottish football debate.
Whether Clement’s words were the bitter reflections of a dismissed manager or the passionate truth of a man who still cares deeply about the club, one thing is certain. Philippe Clement has made it clear that Rangers’ problems run far deeper than the dugout.
