Kevin Muscat Drops Hint Over Rangers Interest with Mourinho-Inspired Response
Shanghai Port boss Kevin Muscat has hinted that he is keeping tabs on Rangers, fueling speculation about his potential return to Ibrox. The Australian has once again emerged as a leading candidate to replace Philippe Clement permanently, with Barry Ferguson currently serving as interim manager until the end of the season.
Muscat was previously in the running for the Rangers job after Michael Beale’s dismissal, having enjoyed success with Yokohama F. Marinos. However, the Ibrox hierarchy ultimately opted for Clement. Since then, Muscat has won a league and cup double in China, but his Shanghai Port side recently suffered a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos, knocking them out of the Asian Champions League.
Now shifting focus back to defending Shanghai Port’s Chinese Super League title, Muscat raised eyebrows with a playful Mourinho-inspired response when facing post-match questions following the 4-1 defeat in Japan.
Muscat Channels Mourinho in Press Conference
Muscat’s reaction mirrored that of Jose Mourinho, who made headlines after Fenerbahce’s 3-1 Europa League defeat to Rangers. During a press conference, Mourinho feigned exhaustion while listening to a lengthy question from a reporter, interrupting with:
“Oh, this is too much for my head. I’m tired, man. Ninety minutes, not to listen to all this. I’m too tired for that. Yeah, yeah, we change players every game.”
Muscat took a similar approach when asked a long-winded question about what advice he would offer to Yokohama F. Marinos as they advanced in the Champions League. Looking noticeably uncomfortable, he responded:
“No. Long question… but you remember when Mourinho started to fall asleep last week when he got asked a long question?”
Could Muscat Be the Next Rangers Boss?
A poll by Record Sport revealed that Rangers fans favor Muscat as Clement’s long-term successor, ahead of Steven Gerrard, Derek McInnes, and Barry Ferguson. However, Ally Craig Moore previously suggested that the door might be closed for Muscat at Ibrox, stating:
“Kevin Muscat was extremely keen on the job and interviewed twice before Philippe Clement was appointed. Anyone who doesn’t get a job they want is disappointed, and he believed he could close the gap and change things. That opportunity wasn’t available to Kevin, but it was to Philippe.”
Whether Rangers will revisit their interest in Muscat remains to be seen, but his recent Mourinho-inspired quip suggests he still has Ibrox on his radar.
