The criticism towards Philippe Clement’s comments about financial disparity continues.
After beating Ross County, the Rangers boss highlighted the difference in resources available to the next two opponents over the next week, Tottenham on Thursday and Celtic on Sunday in the Premier Sports Cup final.
Clement was accused of getting his Gers excuses in early ahead of those two massive clashes.
His comments were: “Of course it’s totally different kind of games (than the win over Ross County).
”Maybe we need to say financially out of our league the two games but we’re going to compete in that way.
”It’s a really nice challenge for our squad to show themselves in these games and what we can do against those teams.”
Rangers fans didn’t like hearing it and they haven’t been the only ones.
Clement criticised for Rangers and Celtic finances comparison
Speaking on Sky Sports after the comments, James McFadden was critical of the Rangers boss.
”You’re giving them a chance of winning the Cup (v Celtic),” McFadden said.
”Because they’ve turned their form around and they’re finding a level of consistency.
”Obviously you want to do well in every game you play but they would give up losing on Thursday (v Spurs) to win the Cup, absolutely no doubt.
”I think it’s going to be an interesting one because you play Spurs and you can say they’re out of your league financially.
”Well, that’s the case with Ross County today, you get on with it. You just play the game. Don’t make excuses before you’ve started.”
Now, a former Ibrox midfielder has joined in with the dissenting voices.
Andy Halliday reckons it doesn’t chime with the message Clement is trying to get across at the same time about building a winning mentality at the club.
And he says it’s giving players an excuse ahead of the game.
Halliday told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: “I don’t go along with it, especially when, five days previously at the AGM, you’re talking about building this winning mentality and you’re expecting to win trophies and win every single week.
“Then in the post-match against Ross County you’re talking about a financial gulf.
“One thing I’ve learned is, if you give footballers any excuse, believe me they’ll take it.
“I think you’ve already planted a little seed of doubt, ‘we’re coming up against teams on Thursday and Sunday that have got a lot more money than us’, so it wasn’t a comment that I particularly liked.”
Clement comparing Celtic to Spurs
It has also been suggested that one thing that could have irked Rangers fans is the suggestion that Celtic are on the same level as Premier League giants Tottenham.
The difference in resources across the city is nowhere near what it is to clubs at the top of the game in England.
Gordon Dalziel said: “Is the bit that’s sticking in some throats that, even though you’re being accurate in saying Celtic have more money, they aren’t in a different stratosphere?
“We’re not talking English Premier League vs Rangers or Rangers vs Ross County, we’re talking about a team that’s just financially in better health.”
Halliday replied: “Well, the different stratospheres that you’re talking about is against Hearts who Rangers have drawn 0-0 with and Aberdeen who Rangers lost to.
“Managers will sometimes come out with this when it suits them, but when you come up against Celtic at the weekend, I don’t think they’re worlds apart.”
