Effective management is far more intricate than a simple box-ticking process. Yet having said that, Philippe Clement is starting to simplify everything.
Put an end to the decay that was destroying Michael Beale’s reputation. Verify. Utilize the same players and still be able to totally alter their performance and form? Verify. Eat up a sizable portion of Celtic’s lead in the standings? Verify. Make it to the Europa League’s round of 16? Verify. and take home the session’s first domestic trophy? One that the Rangers have been missing for over ten years? Yes, he has also completed that task.
If it hadn’t been occurring right here, on the doorstep that they seem so determined to ruin, it might have been simpler for those on the opposing side of Glasgow’s divide to ignore it all. Really, the events of yesterday at Hampden, where James Tavernier’s winner in the second half of the game ended the Viaplay Cup Final, felt like a very seismic shift in momentum, especially considering that it occurred just 24 hours after chaos was erupting at Parkhead once more.
After suffering his second straight league loss, Clement is now squarely focused on Brendan Rodgers. And now, before he enters the January sales, the Belgian has the opportunity to lead Rangers to the summit of the table.
To be honest, considering the really poor condition in which this group was in when Clement took over from Beale, his accomplishments in a short period of time are quite amazing. And now would seem to be a good time to get a grip if there is anyone at Celtic who is still in denial.
They are currently engaged in a real struggle for domestic supremacy, and all the “sack the boards” in the world won’t help Rodgers complete this Rangers comeback. They appear to be divided and blind to the harm they are causing to themselves at a time when the champions need to come together and stand united.
In fact, it was just a few years ago—after the Rangers’ first title since their financial collapse—that it felt that way. Rangers appeared to be a group of people who are growing fond of it as they celebrated another piece of silverware with their supporters yesterday.
Clement would have believed that his weekend could not get much better after watching Celtic collapse against Hearts at home on Saturday afternoon. Before he even boarded the team bus to make the cross-town journey from Auchenhowie to Mount Florida, though, there was more good news for him.
And it took the form of Todd Cantwell, who raised his hand for selection despite missing the team’s victory in Seville on Thursday night due to personal matters. As his team’s chief creative, Clement would have been forced to start Sam Lammers again if Cantwell hadn’t been available.
Furthermore, one can only make the same error so many times before suffering the consequences. Nevertheless, Cantwell will have been seeking atonement upon arriving at the national stadium, having been brutally hooked by the manager during the halftime of the semi-final victory over Hearts.
And that was the kind of embarrassing slip-up the Englishman would have wished to avoid, with all eyes on him. Cantwell had a rather hectic first half, mowing as much grass as his short legs would allow.
Then, following the interval, his influence increased. And this three, with Dujon Sterling and John Lundstram putting in the hard work behind him, would essentially run Aberdeen into submission.
It wasn’t always attractive. In actuality, even though referee Don Robertson didn’t appear to notice, the first 45 minutes were essentially a running battle. Until five minutes before the half, the man in charge kept his cards in his top pocket. It was likely due to something Ester Sokler and Lundstram stated in a hurry.
However, sticks, stones, and other things. For the remainder of the time, Robertson was more than willing to allow the rough and tumble to go on wherever.
Fortunately, Lundstram only received a single, crucial early foul, but Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie was everywhere, circling the field like a red-shirted wrecking ball. Although Robertson may have meant to play the game as it happened, by letting so many things go unpunished, he also contributed to this final turning into a shambolic and very unedifying event. Towards the end of the second half, tensions amongst players boiled over and spilled into Jack Butland’s goal.
The greatest of Aberdeen’s first-half opportunities fell short of their mark as Kelle Roos had to make a quick stop to stop Abdallah Sima’s turn-around attempt from the edge of the box. The most obvious of them was, however, missed by little Ross McCausland, who sent two headers that were nearly identical high and wide of the keeper’s back post.
Five minutes before halftime, McCausland finally found the goal, leaving the Roos with no chance. However, the young player’s moment of glory was cut short when Sima fouled Nicky Devlin a moment before. Big Phil was skulking around his technical area the entire time, appearing increasingly irritated and wearing a skip hat to shield his head from the rain.
or better yet, what they weren’t. The Belgian urged them to do something to influence the enormous scoreboards at either end of the field after witnessing them control so much of the play.
They nearly paid for it at the beginning of the second half when Devlin’s low cross from the right zipped over the six-yard box and no one was there to put in the simplest of finishing touches. However, this was Aberdeen’s only meaningful phase of the game.
And there never appeared to be a chance for them to recover when Tavernier scored with fifteen minutes remaining, improvising masterfully to hammer a hitch-kick home.
Now that Clement is cranking up the heat for Christmas, the major question is whether Celtic will show to be any more robust as we enter the festive season.
