Brendan Rodgers offers wily response as Celtic manager probed on Rangers dropping points
01/06/2025 07:30 AM
Rangers boss Philippe Clement finally overcame Celtic counterpart Brendan Rodgers at the seventh time of asking last week.
But within three days any good will the under-fire Belgian manager had managed to build with the Rangers support had evaporated somewhere along the M8.
Rangers cut the Scottish Premiership gap to 11 points with a thumping 3-0 Old Firm victory over Celtic at Ibrox.
But Philippe Clement and his team failed to build on that landmark win with a stuttering 3-3 draw against Hibs which was defined by shambolic Rangers defending.
Celtic then took full advantage to hammer St Mirren 3-0 and open up a 13 point gap which is all but insurmountable for Rangers.
But speaking after the St Mirren game, Brendan Rodgers was in no mood to gloat as Celtic took another huge step towards matching Rangers' record haul of 55 domestic crowns.
Brendan Rodgers quizzed on Rangers dropping points
"We're not used to losing and obviously we deserved to lose in the last game," Rodgers told Sky Sports.
"But we didn't dwell on it. We analysed the game and see it as a learning opportunity and the players took that into (the 3-0 win over St Mirren).
"I think the only thing that we've done in the last couple of days before kick-off is just recalibrate after the last game.
"We arrived at the halfway point in a really good place. We focused ourselves because that's all you can control really.
"Of course if other teams drop points then that's the way it goes but for us it's all just part of the climb, it's the journey to get to the very end by the end of the season.
"For us it really is about our performance because you can't control what other teams do."
Rangers offering meek Celtic title resistance
Every time Rangers take one step forward, Philippe Clement's bungling squad immediately take two back.
The progress in the Rangers team is clear to see this season but the club's weak-willed squad appears incapable of cracking the nut on the road in Scotland.
Beating Celtic is all well and good for brownie points with the Rangers support but if the team can't mop up the bread and butter matches around the grounds in Scotland, it all counts for nothing come May.
Celtic are in the routine of swatting these Scottish Premiership outfits aside whilst Rangers routinely make a meal of matches on the road.
As Rangers reflect on yet more away day disappointment, Brendan Rodgers and Celtic have their eyes fixed on the prize come the end of the season.
Conversely, Philippe Clement and the shaky Rangers defence can barely keep their eye on the ball every time it comes into their box.
