Philippe Clement makes Rangers statement as Steven Gerrard agreement emerges

Steven Gerrard is being linked with a sensational instrumentality to Rangers are unit continues to turn connected Philippe Clement aft his broadside suffered a freak decision successful the Scottish Cup

Under unit Rangers brag Philippe Clement has spoke retired amid whispers of Steven Gerrard perchance replacing him astatine Ibrox.

The Gers were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by 2nd tier minnows Queen's Park astatine the weekend, leaving the Europa League arsenic their lone realistic anticipation of landing silverware this play fixed the 13-point spread betwixt them and Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.

Under Clement's watch, Rangers person struggled to support gait with their Glasgow neighbours, casting uncertainty implicit the Belgian manager's aboriginal astatine the club. Speaking aft Sunday's daze upset, Clement said helium wouldn't beryllium stepping down, and suggested it would beryllium a foolishly knee-jerk absorption to sack him.

"I don't expect this [being sacked] due to the fact that you tin enactment different manager successful this crippled - would it beryllium antithetic successful that sense? Yesterday, progression was made, apical 8 successful Europe and much consistency successful the league and each these things, they don't alteration successful 90 minutes," helium said.

"If you bash that and marque decisions successful that way, past you marque lone decisions retired of emotions and not retired of what's been going on. So I don't expect this now."

It comes amid speech of Gerrard perchance returning to Rangers. The Liverpool legend, who led the nine to their archetypal league rubric successful a decennary 4 years ago, is retired of enactment aft leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq by mutual consent past month.

Ally McCoist, who scored 355 goals for the Gers, claimed earlier this week that a instrumentality to Glasgow could beryllium conscionable what the doc ordered for Gerrard pursuing a mates of disappointing managerial spells. "It wouldn't astonishment maine if Steven Gerrard came backmost to Ibrox," McCoist told talkSPORT BET.

"He's evidently held successful truly precocious respect by the supporters due to the fact that of the league rubric helium won, and his adjacent occupation is going to beryllium vitally important for him. Things haven't gone according to program for him aft helium near Rangers. A small spot similar Frank Lampard going to Coventry – his adjacent assignment was truly important to him arsenic well, truthful we'll spot what Steven ends up choosing to bash with his career."

Echoing McCoist's sentiments, ex-Celtic brag Neil Lennon besides reckoned a Gerrard-Rangers reunion could beryllium connected the cards. "Steven Gerrard backmost to Rangers? You ne'er cognize successful football," the Irishman told Casino Uden Rofus. "You ne'er cognize wherever the adjacent task oregon adjacent escapade volition instrumentality you. You tin ne'er regularisation thing similar that out.

"At the minute, Philippe Clement is steadying the vessel with Rangers. He'll privation to marque progression and inroads into the remainder of the play and evidently physique for adjacent year. But successful the future, who knows."

Rangers built a decent spot of momentum implicit the past fewer months, suffering conscionable 2 defeats successful each competitions since October, but Sunday's nonaccomplishment has changed the code completely. Boos rang retired astir Ibrox astatine afloat time, moments aft James Tavernier missed a 97th infinitesimal punishment to level the game. It was the archetypal clip successful past that Rangers had been knocked retired of the Scottish Cup astatine location by a broadside from a little division.

"I'm aggravated and frustrated astir this effect and going retired of the cupful due to the fact that it was 1 of our large goals and our shortest accidental to spell to triumph a trophy this season," Clement fumed. "It's unacceptable, this result."

The 50-year-old past ripped into his players, insisting they'd sullied overmuch of their hard enactment they'd enactment implicit the past fewer months. "They built backmost recognition with the fans successful the past weeks and months. Today, they mislaid everything," helium raged.

"They are close to beryllium angry. I'm angry. It's unacceptable and the players cognize that. There were excessively galore emotions successful the 2nd half. It was excessively rushed from the squad to people and determination was little composure than the past fewer months."

Join our caller WhatsApp assemblage and person your regular dose of Mirror Football content. We besides dainty our assemblage members to peculiar offers, promotions, and adverts from america and our partners. If you don't similar our community, you tin cheque retired immoderate clip you like. If you're curious, you tin work our Privacy Notice.