Michael Stewart shares if he thinks Rangers boss Philippe Clement can close the gap to Celtic

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The gap between Celtic and Rangers has been a hot topic that has been spoken about for most of 2024.

When Celtic won the league and the Bhoys beat Rangers in the Scottish Cup final last season, the talk about the gap between both clubs dominated the headlines.

Celtic’s financial power outstrips that of Rangers by a long distance and their domination on the park over the last 20 years has propelled the Hoops as Scotland’s most successful club.

But after the last two Glasgow Derby games where Rangers actually pushed Celtic but still, ultimately lost the most important game in the League Cup final, the conversation on the gap between the two clubs has resurfaced.

Michael Stewart was asked if Philippe Clement should be judged as the Rangers manager with the team he has assembled now and the question led to a whole different conversation.

Rangers ‘admit’ the gap to Celtic with transfer business

Stewart told The Scottish Football Social Club [14m], “I’m just saying that I think everybody recognises that Rangers, as a club, are quite a distance away from Celtic.

“They admit that themselves in regards to what they’re capable of doing in the transfer market. They’re having to try and lower the wage bill, and they’re trying to close a gap. It’s not an easy task.”

So with that answer, Stewart was then asked if he is the calibre to become a top Rangers manager, Stewart delivered a does of ‘reality’ to the Ibrox fans

Michael Stewart’s verdict if Rangers’ Philippe Clement can close the gap to Celtic

“So when you ask the question is, Philippe Clement the calibre of a potentially top Rangers manager,” continued Stewart, “What you’re doing there is you’re comparing things with a different period when the barometer of success was different as well.

“I think Rangers are in a period of having to recalibrate and you could argue that Philippe Clement isn’t of the standard of previous managers.

“But it’s a difficult situation for everybody that’s involved in Rangers. The fans’ expectations are very high. But I think the reality is that the club are not on a level playing field with Celtic.

“Now a better question would be is Philippe Clement capable of bridging that gap, I would say, I’m unsure.”

One good result in a Glasgow Derby doesn’t mean that the pendulum of power in Glasgow has swung.

The results that Rangers and Celtic played out last weekend proved that. Even though the Ibrox club won the derby, the gap at the top of the table has still increased.

The proof will be in the pudding at the end of the season. The league title is all but wrapped up and with the League Cup already in the cabinet, if Rodgers can wrap up another treble, it’s going to be hard to argue against the gap increasing further, rather than closing.