Philippe Clement’s tactical adjustments surprised both Tottenham and one Celtic-affiliated pundit, delivering much-needed results for Rangers.
Celtic legend Peter Grant praised the Belgian manager for finally making changes that maximized the squad’s potential, despite earlier claims he wouldn’t. Rangers’ spirited performance earned them a valuable Europa League point against Spurs, keeping them in the top eight and on track for automatic qualification to the Round of 16. Clement’s lineup tweaks, including using Ridvan Yilmaz as a left-winger and shifting Nedim Bajrami to a central No.10 role, injected energy and unpredictability into the team.
The result was a dynamic display that unsettled Ange Postecoglou’s side, with Hamza Igamane opening the scoring before Dejan Kulusevski salvaged a late equalizer for Tottenham. Grant highlighted Clement’s newfound tactical flexibility, something fans had been waiting to see, suggesting it could be key to Rangers’ success going forward.
Speaking on Go Radio, Grant said: “Celtic have the better squad, no question, but Clement showed against Tottenham that he’s willing to adapt. He changed the system, rotated players, and put them in unfamiliar positions, and it paid off. Fans want to see that kind of initiative, otherwise they’ll see him as stubborn for not using the full potential of the squad.”
While Ianis Hagi and Danilo missed the Spurs clash due to their omission from the European squad, their domestic performances could make them crucial in the latter stages of the Europa League and upcoming domestic fixtures. However, the standout displays from Igamane, Bajrami, and Vaclav Cerny may make it difficult for Clement to overlook them in key matches, including Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final against Celtic.
