Philippe Clement Remains Under Pressure at Rangers Despite Hearts Victory
Rangers may have secured a 3-1 win against Hearts at Tynecastle on 16 February, but Philippe Clement’s position as manager remains under intense scrutiny.
A second-half goal from Vaclav Cerny and two own goals by Jamie McCart helped the Gers claim all three points, although they struggled for large periods of the match. Despite the victory, the Belgian coach continues to face criticism and is far from secure in his role at Ibrox.
Fans Unmoved by Unconvincing Performance
Rangers supporters have not forgotten the embarrassing defeat to Queen’s Park, and their skepticism remains unchanged following the performance against Hearts. Few positives emerged from the match, with Ianis Hagi standing out as a rare bright spot with his impressive contributions.
Clement’s optimistic post-match comments surprised many, including Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd, who was left frustrated by the manager’s assessment. Journalist Andy Newport, writing in the Daily Record (17 February, page 39), suggested that the 50-year-old remains on thin ice, questioning his long-term future at Ibrox.
He wrote: “Still clinging on to his job. The Ibrox faithful have long since made their minds up on the beleaguered Belgian and this won’t change anything.”
Rangers Fortunate in Hearts Win
While Rangers left Edinburgh with three points, Hearts created the better chances and were only denied by an outstanding display from Jack Butland. The visitors’ goals came with a fair amount of luck, including Cerny’s, which fell kindly to him.
In contrast, Hearts were unlucky, with several attempts narrowly missing the target and some key refereeing decisions going against them. Clinton Nsiala may have been fortunate to escape conceding a penalty, but ultimately, Clement will be relieved to have secured the victory.
However, pressure remains high on the Belgian, and any further setbacks could put his job in serious jeopardy. With only the Europa League left to fight for, it would take a remarkable turnaround to silence his critics and restore faith in his tenure.
