Philippe Clement’s tenure at Rangers appears to be approaching a breaking point. When he arrived, he was heralded as a winner, a manager with a track record of delivering silverware and raising standards. His success in Belgium, where he led Genk and Club Brugge to league titles, suggested he was a man who knew how to win. Initially, he seemed to bring that winning mentality to Rangers as well, guiding them to a League Cup victory and putting them in contention for the Scottish Premiership title last season.

However, football is a results-driven business, and recent performances suggest that Clement has lost his grip on the team. Rangers, a club with a proud history and a demanding fanbase, are enduring a spell of embarrassing defeats, particularly at Ibrox, where they should be dominant. The manner of these losses—tactically naive, lacking intensity, and devoid of leadership—has only heightened the pressure on the Belgian coach. The fans have turned against him, and when that happens at a club like Rangers, there is usually only one outcome.

Clement’s Tactical Stubbornness

One of the biggest concerns surrounding Clement’s management is his apparent tactical inflexibility. Managers who succeed at the highest level recognize when adjustments need to be made, but Clement seems unwilling to accept that his approach isn’t working. Time and again, he has doubled down on his belief that “there is nothing wrong with the tactics,” despite clear evidence to the contrary. Rangers have been outplayed by teams with significantly smaller budgets, who have arrived at Ibrox and left with comfortable victories. The defense has been a shambles, the midfield has lacked control, and the attack has been toothless in crucial moments.

A good manager identifies problems and adapts accordingly. But Clement’s insistence that the system isn’t to blame has left Rangers looking like a side with no direction. His reluctance to change tactics or drop underperforming players has led to predictable, ineffective performances, making life far too easy for opponents.

Comparisons to Steven Gerrard’s Struggles

The situation Clement finds himself in is reminiscent of the difficult period Steven Gerrard endured at Rangers in early 2020. Following disappointing defeats to Hamilton and Hearts, Gerrard faced intense scrutiny from the fans and the media. However, there was a crucial difference in how he handled the pressure. Rather than deflecting responsibility, Gerrard openly admitted that he needed to reflect on his position, stating:

“I need to think hard about where we are at as a group. I need to do some real, serious thinking in the next 24, 48 hours. I am feeling pain right now because I want to win here, I am desperate to win here. Looking from the side today, I didn’t get the impression that the feeling amongst my players was the same. The performance was nowhere near good enough.”

Gerrard’s comments suggested a level of self-awareness, a willingness to acknowledge that something needed to change. In contrast, Clement has shown no such reflection. His post-match comments suggest that he still believes he can turn things around and that the players are simply not executing his game plan properly.

By placing the responsibility on the board, Clement is effectively washing his hands of the situation. His message is clear: If you want me gone, you’ll have to sack me.

The Role of the Rangers Board

This puts the Rangers board in a difficult position. Clement’s refusal to consider stepping down leaves them with two options: back him further and hope for a turnaround, or make the tough decision to part ways before the season is completely derailed. The latter is becoming an increasingly likely scenario.

Rangers still have a squad capable of competing, even if it is flawed. There is more than enough quality to win most domestic matches, but under Clement, they have looked like a team devoid of confidence and belief. The biggest concern is that this slide could continue unless drastic action is taken. If they wait too long, they risk falling too far behind Celtic in the title race, losing out on European football, and alienating even more supporters.

The decision also has financial implications. If the board chooses to sack Clement, they will need to pay off his contract and invest in a replacement. Given Rangers’ financial situation, that may not be an easy decision. However, the longer they hesitate, the greater the risk that the damage becomes irreversible.

What Happens Next?

If Clement remains in charge, he will need to show a level of adaptability and leadership that has so far been lacking. That means making difficult decisions—dropping underperforming players, adjusting his tactics, and finding a way to instill belief back into the squad.

However, if he continues down the same path, the outcome seems inevitable. Fans will only become more vocal in their demands for change, and once the support of the crowd is lost, it is almost impossible to regain.

Rangers are at a crossroads. They can either stick with a manager who appears to have lost control, or they can make a decisive change in the hope of salvaging the season. Clement may believe he is the right man for the job, but at a club like Rangers, belief isn’t enough. Results are all that matter.

The next few weeks will determine whether Clement has any future at Ibrox. Right now, it seems increasingly likely that his time is running out.