Philippe Clement’s Rangers will enter Sunday’s Scottish League Cup final against Premiership leaders Celtic as underdogs. However, their current form has significantly improved their chances compared to a few weeks ago when a slip-up against Aberdeen highlighted their inconsistencies.
Rangers have been in scintillating form, winning four consecutive matches and scoring 14 goals before their Europa League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday. Although Dejan Kulusevski’s late equalizer ended their winning streak, Rangers dominated large portions of the game. Hamza Igamane continued his remarkable scoring run, while Nico Raskin and Ridvan Yilmaz earned Clement’s praise for their relentless performances.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers tuned in to watch Rangers’ spirited display against Spurs. He acknowledged that Clement’s side, now brimming with confidence, will pose a far greater challenge than the team Celtic beat 3-0 in September, inspired by Daizen Maeda.
“A Celtic versus Rangers final is always a fantastic occasion,” Rodgers said in his pre-match press conference. “Hampden is the perfect setting, but it’s just the next game for us—the next one we want to play well in and win.
“I thought Rangers played very well against Tottenham. They’ve been performing at a high level in recent games, and we know they’ll aim to replicate that on Sunday.”
Rangers will also have extra motivation, seeking revenge for their Scottish Cup final defeat in May, when Adam Idah’s stoppage-time goal—following a rare Jack Butland error—secured the trophy for Celtic. Rodgers, however, emphasized the unpredictable nature of finals.
“In a final, you never expect it to be a formality,” he said. “It’s about preparing for the unexpected and managing the occasion. We’ve had an excellent season so far, and this is an opportunity to secure the first silverware.”
While Celtic received a boost with the likely return of first-choice right-back Alistair Johnston from injury, Rangers face uncertainty over key players. Both Hamza Igamane and John Souttar suffered knocks during the Spurs game, leaving their participation in doubt.
Clement, speaking on Thursday, admitted his concerns. “Regarding John and Hamza, it’s too soon to say. I wish I had more clarity, but we’ll have to wait and see over the next couple of days. Freshness isn’t something we’re thinking about right now.”
