League Cup glory is about more than silverware to Philippe Clement’s young Rangers team

Add as preferred source on Google

Rangers once had such unprecedented success in the Scottish League Cup it was nicknamed the Rangers Cup.

Despite the Gers’ immense toils of the last decade and a half, Rangers are still the mid-season tournament’s record winners having lifted the cup 28 times.

The current holders, Rangers fans had to wait a quite ridiculous 12 years to lift the trophy again with a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen last season.

Now, Rangers are set to contest the trophy once more, with Old Firm rivals Celtic lying in their wake in the rebranded Premier Sports Cup Final.

But whilst the build-up will be dominated by trophy records and treble-talk, the tournament represents an almighty opportunity for Philippe Clement’s young squad to finally arrive in Glasgow.

• READ MORE: Overworked Gers duo to feel the benefit of creative trio’s imminent return

Rangers pride on line v Celtic in League Cup

With Rangers and Celtic tied on 118 trophies apiece, should our Old Firm rivals lift the trophy they will officially overtake the Gers as the World’s Most Successful club.

It’s an excruciating thought for Rangers fans who’ve seen their club, squad and management regress since the heady days of 55 in 20/21.

But beyond just that trophy record, there are other high-pressure factors at play as Rangers prepare to face Celtic at Hampden.

Celtic have been relentless this season and Rangers, or anyone else for that matter, have been unable to stop them at the time of writing.

If there is anyone who is going to halt Brendan Rodgers and Celtic’s ominous march to a sixth treble in nine years, it’s Rangers.

With the Scottish Premiership a long shot as things stand for Rangers, the League Cup can silence any treble talk before it begins and reinstate the Ibrox club’s long-standing trophy legacy.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	CelticCeltic	13	12	1	0	40	4	36	37
2	AberdeenAberdeen	14	10	3	1	29	16	13	33
3	RangersRangers	13	8	2	3	18	9	9	26
4	Dundee UtdDundee Utd	14	6	5	3	21	14	7	23
5	MotherwellMotherwell	13	6	1	6	16	19	-3	19

Philippe Clement is also without a win in the Old Firm fixture, a statistic that will further hang over the under pressure Rangers manager if his side fail to overcome Celtic.

There is huge pressure on this fixture and Clement is at the centre of it.

But there is a lot more on the line for Rangers come the December 15th clash at Hampden, with the club’s young squad still finding their feet in Glasgow.

League Cup win can be Rangers catalyst

Rangers underwent the biggest squad overhaul since the days of Steven Gerrard in the summer transfer window.

Out went 16 players at the end of their contacts, completion of their loan deals or under club sanctioned transfers as Rangers fans threatened a revolt.

With the club also cutting nearly £10m from its wage bill, Rangers insist the days of overpaid, underperforming English Championship no-marks is officially over.

Instead, Rangers have opted to sign a number of young players from emerging markets with Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen boxing clever in an attempt to deliver more player trading knockouts.

Whilst Rangers fans are clearly not happy at the club’s league form, there have been flickers of progress in this regard.

It’s been a steep learning curve for many at Rangers as Philippe Clement tries to instil the ‘winning culture’ necessary in the Ibrox dressing room.

For a young team still finding their feet in Glasgow, victory in the League Cup Final would prove a lot of the doubters wrong and give them something to build on, and protect, in Glasgow.

It’s a monumental game for a number of reasons but the prize of victory can be about much more than silverware for this developing Rangers team.

It’s the chance to win together for the first time and give Celtic a bloody nose, but it could also be the catalyst for something much bigger at Ibrox.