The Celtic weakness that Rangers can exploit as Hibs show the way - opinion

12/11/2024 03:00 AM

Philippe Clement could win both games this week and still have a long way to go to convince everyone that he is the right man for the Rangers job.

The gap to Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership would get any Light Blues manager sacked, especially with the money that has been spent on some of the players in the squad.

What Clement has though, is the opportunity to land a counter punch in the Premier Sports Cup final if he sets Rangers up to take advantage of a chink in Celtic's armoury.

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How Philippe Clement can finally steer Rangers to Celtic win

Despite winning 3-0, the Parkhead outfit conceded 2.28 in expected goals against Hibernian.

In other words, a lot of chances, and a lot of good chances too. They are hugely talented in the final third and have pace to burn with goals throughout midfield and the forward line, however, they are vulnerable out of possession.

This was a game where Celtic were at home, against the team who sit bottom of the Scottish Premiership table.

Hibs shouldn't just have scored; they should have scored at least two.

That Kasper Schmeichel was named in Kris Boyd's team of the week tells its own story.

When Clement has shown Rangers game plan to beat Celtic

Clement's best results have been in Europe against teams like Malmo (who won the Allsvenskan), Nice (fighting for a Champions League place in Ligue 1), and Olympiacos (who are top of the Greek Super League).

Even against Lyon in a 4-1 defeat, things could have been different had Rangers taken their chances.

In all of these games, Clement was positive with his team selection as well as his tactics and he has to do the same against Celtic at Hampden.

On too many occasions Rangers haven't laid a glove on their bitter rivals, but there is no excuse with a nearly fully fit squad and players like Danilo and Ianis Hagi at his disposal,

If the team sitting at the bottom of the league can cause Celtic problems, there is no reason why a team sitting eighth on the Europa League table can't too.