Ex-Gers staffer & Liverpool hero uses one word to describe pressure Clement is under at Ibrox
08/05/2024 14:00
Gary McAllister knows all about the pressure of expectation at Rangers.
The ex-Scotland international served as Steven Gerrard's Ibrox assistant as Rangers looked to rebuild and win that first title since the club's financial implosion in 2012.
And also halt Celtic's march towards 10IAR.
It's a mission which Gary McAllister and the Rangers team of 2020/21 achieved but the ex-Liverpool and Leeds United midfielder's time in Glasgow was not without disappointment.
Now, speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday's crunch Scottish Premiership Old Firm derby, Gary McAllister has been talking about the pressure of expectation at Ibrox.
McAllister describes Clement Rangers pressure
Gary McAllister has been explaining that he believes Philippe Clement has now seen both sides to life at Rangers.
After a bright start the Belgian manager has saw the club's title charge collapse in a disastrous run of only one Scottish Premiership win in five games.
Now back on the horse, Rangers are faced with the prospect of going to Celtic Park and winning if they harbour any ambitions to lift 56 this season.
That's no mean feat given they're going there without a bluenose in the building.
Nonetheless, Rangers fans expect their team to deliver and Gary McAllister has one word to describe the immense pressure Philippe Clement is under at Ibrox.
"The buck stops at the manager," said McAllister. "Being just in behind the manager does take a little bit of the pressure away.
"But you're there to help the guy who is under the ultimate pressure.
"My job was to try and help Steven (Gerrard) every which way and any which way I could.
"And (Clement) will have a team behind him as well. He's got good people in beside him.
"As most of the managers of both the Old Firm will tell you, there's not many clubs in the world where the pressure is greater.
"The expectation level is remarkable.
"As much as the Scottish league is not seen as one of the big four or five leagues across Europe but whoever wins and gets into the Champions League, both the Old Firm are expected to beat everybody at Celtic Park or Ibrox.
"So the pressure is certainly different from many, many clubs from across the world."
Ex-Gers assistant gives Belgian report card
Gary McAllister has also been giving his two cents on the job Philippe Clement is currently doing at Rangers.
For a brief moment, the two players were teammates at Coventry City in the English Premiership but that wasn't a productive moment in Big Phil's playing career.
Discussing whether or not he believes Clement has what it takes to handle the pressure of expectation at Rangers, the ex-Ibrox assistant has been impressed.
"It's nice to be under pressure but if it's pressure you can't cope with you need to step aside," said McAllister.
"He's now witnessed the highs and the lows and the way the fans, they never turn, but how they get disappointed that they can't keep winning.
"He looks a very steady man, even when Rangers are going well he's on a level.
"In recent weeks there's been a few disappointments but he's still come out after the game and tried to be positive and push the team forward."
Earlier in the interview, McAllister described Clement's time at Coventry.
The ex-Scotland captain was playing for the Sky Blues when Clement spent a season at the Ricoh Arena in 1998/99 but admits the Belgian's campaign was dogged by injury.
"Philippe coming to Coventry, obviously I can remember," said McAllister. "But the thing that does stand out, the poor fella got injured inside a couple or three games.
"And it might've been in training as well.
"So his career at Coventry was just dogged immediately from arriving and after a dozen games and I don't know how many months he was there he chose to go home.
"Obviously then caught the eye managing Monaco and he managed in Belgium so I've seen his name crop up again and then seen it linked with Rangers.
"I've got to say, since arriving there he's done a fantastic job."
Philippe Clement has also been speaking this week about comments made by Brendan Rodgers having a 'bit of fun' at Celtic Park this weekend.
