Philippe Clement speaks for the Rangers as the Steven Gerrard deal is made public.

Philippe Clement Responds as Steven Gerrard Links to Rangers Intensify

Speculation is mounting over a potential return to Rangers for Steven Gerrard as pressure builds on current manager Philippe Clement following a shocking Scottish Cup exit.

Steven Gerrard

Clement has addressed rumors about his future after Rangers suffered a stunning defeat to second-tier Queen’s Park, leaving the Europa League as their only realistic shot at silverware this season. The loss further widened the gap to league leaders Celtic, raising doubts about the Belgian’s tenure at Ibrox.

Despite the setback, Clement dismissed the idea of stepping down, insisting that sacking him would be a rash decision. “I don’t expect this [being sacked] because another manager in this situation wouldn’t have changed the result,” he said. “We’ve made progress—reaching the top eight in Europe and showing more consistency in the league—those things don’t disappear in 90 minutes.”

Meanwhile, talk of Gerrard’s return has gained traction after the former Rangers boss, who ended Celtic’s dominance with a title win in 2021, became available following his departure from Al-Ettifaq. Club legend Ally McCoist suggested a return to Ibrox could be a smart move for Gerrard, given his recent struggles in management. Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon echoed that sentiment, stating that a reunion shouldn’t be ruled out.

Rangers had built strong momentum in recent months, suffering only two losses since October, but Sunday’s defeat changed the mood dramatically. Boos rang around Ibrox after James Tavernier’s missed stoppage-time penalty, marking the club’s first-ever home Scottish Cup exit to a lower-division team.

A furious Clement did not hold back in his post-match comments, blasting his players for undoing their hard work. “They had rebuilt credit with the fans in recent months, but today, they lost everything,” he said. “The supporters have every right to be angry. I’m angry. It’s unacceptable, and the players know that.”