Philippe Clement might have just about managed to stave off chatter about a return to Belgium with back-to-back wins for Rangers this week.
That impressive victory away to OGC Nice was met with a quick turnaround in Perthshire, with Rangers battling to a less than convincing 1-0 victory against St Johnstone.
But whilst Clement takes a breather, current Diables Rouges manager Domenico Tedesco continues to be under the Belgian media’s spotlight after a challenging few months in Brussels.
As Rangers were slipping further behind in the title hunt, Belgium were reportedly set to meet with regards Tedesco’s future over the weekend.
But whilst it’s all quiet in that regard, the decision to leave Tedesco out of Belgium’s World Cup Qualifying party is once again shining a light on the Rangers manager.
Philippe Clement wanted by ‘Belgium’
Domenico Tedesco will not be part of the three-man travelling party for the World Cup Qualification draw in Switzerland on December 13th.
Given it’s the first time in 40 years this has happened, and the mounting pressure on the 39-year-old’s shoulders, the Belgian media are having a bit of a field day.
It comes with Tedesco facing calls for the sack following disappointing UEFA Euro 2024 and UEFA Nations League campaigns, the latter of which ended with a 1-0 defeat to Israel.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement was named as the frontrunner from a list of three who’d been cited in the Belgian media as potential Tedesco replacements.
It comes with Philippe Clement having a close link to the Belgian FA’s new sporting director Vincent Mannaert, who was the CEO of Club Brugge during Clement’s time as manager.
Domenico Tedesco World Cup snub explained
Whilst Belgian media have been reporting on the situation with the World Cup Qualifying draw, it gives little away with regards the future of Domenico Tedesco.
That’s because there’s a reason why Tedesco will not be in situ in Switzerland.
With the appointment of Vincent Mannaert, the new sporting director will travel for the draw alongside the federation’s president Pascale Van Damme and CEO Peter Willems.
Nations are only allowed to take a party of three to the draw.
That’s according to Walfoot, who claim that Tedesco will be expected to give a reaction to the draw via video link in an online meeting.
At the very least, this points to Domenico Tedesco staying put at Belgium and, by proxy, Ibrox manager Philippe Clement at Rangers.
Admittedly, that’s what Philippe Clement, who signed a contract extension on the eve of the new season, has said all along.
“A few weeks ago you were here also in the press conference,” Clement said in November.
“I hope you remember what I said there. I don’t want to go into rumours about players, so I’m not going to go into rumours about those things.
“But I was really clear that I said that I engaged myself for the long term to Rangers and I’m not going to change my mind on that.
“So I think it’s very clear. I hope now, in the future, if something else comes, that you don’t come with this question anymore.”
