Alan Brazil’s recent comments on TalkSport about Rangers manager Philippe Clement have certainly stirred the pot.
After the dust settled from a fiercely contested battle that saw the Bhoys clinch a 2-1 victory over Rangers, Clement’s post-match demeanor didn’t sit well with many, notably Brazil. Despite the tactical narratives and on-pitch drama, it was Clement’s perceived arrogance that caught Brazil’s ire.
Brazil, never one to shy away from expressing his opinions, pinpointed an incident involving Celtic’s Matt O’Riley as a showcase of Clement’s attitude. O’Riley, having taken a nasty knock to the face, was bleeding and in need of medical attention. It was here, according to Brazil, that Clement’s impatience and perceived lack of empathy were glaringly evident, urging a quicker removal of the injured player. Such moments, fleeting yet telling, paint a picture of a manager under the intense pressure of the Glasgow Derby rivalry, perhaps letting the moment’s heat dictate his reactions.
Brazil’s critique didn’t end there. He expressed a broader distaste for Clement’s overall demeanor, tagging him as ‘moody and arrogant.’
“One thing I did say, and this is not because I’m one-sided, I don’t like the Rangers coach Clement. I think he’s moody and arrogant.” He said on TalkSports morning show.
“One of the Celtic players was down, O’Riley, he’d done his nose I think and the camera just caught Clement saying, ‘hey, hey, stretcher get him off.’ It was right in the face, it was a head injury and I’m like ‘woah, calm down mate’.”
It’s a reminder of the thin line between competitive edge and perceived disrespect, a balance every figure in this heated derby walks.
As for Clement, the longer he is the Ibrox manager the more he will become entrenched in the malaise created over in that part of the city.
Celtic won 2-1 on the day and deserved their but you wouldn’t think it with the amount of deflection and nonsense coming out from not only Clement but from the club through their pals in the media.
