The Scottish football scene is never short of drama and banter, especially when it involves the managers of Celtic and Rangers. With the Glasgow Derby looming on the horizon this Saturday, Rangers manager Philippe Clement has found himself stirred, not by the thrills of the upcoming clash but by what he perceives as a slight from his Celtic counterpart, Brendan Rodgers.
In his recent post-match press conference, Rodgers, with a wry smile typical of a man whose team had just dismantled Hearts with a 3-0 thumping, mentioned his team’s preparation for the derby. “We have a lot of work to do in the week, get our plan ready,” Rodgers noted. But it was his closing remark—“And then next Saturday we can have a bit of fun”—that seemed to ruffle feathers across town.
Clement, in his response, couldn’t mask his displeasure. “Disrespectful,” he labelled the comments, suggesting that perhaps Rodgers was taking their upcoming meeting a tad lightly.
It’s fascinating, this notion of disrespect brewing from a seemingly innocuous comment about having “a bit of fun.” It’s hard not to admire the passion and the ever-so-slight paranoia that fuels the fire of this rivalry. To the neutral observer, Rodgers’ comment appears nothing more than a light-hearted reflection on the joy that football can bring, especially in a game as significant as the Glasgow Derby.
Yet, in the tempestuous waters of Scottish football, where every word is dissected under the microscope of a rivalry that often crosses the line of lunacy, such comments become the spark for the pre-game psychological battles. It’s this endless loop of verbal sparring that feeds the newspapers and stokes the fires of the fans, who relish every bit of it.
Having personally attended press conferences where Brendan Rodgers discussed the Glasgow Derby, it’s clear that his recent comment about having “a bit of fun” is deeply rooted in his respect for the fixture as a pinnacle event in Scottish football.
Rodgers has consistently expressed that these derbies are a joy to participate in—not due to any presumption of an easy win, but because they represent the kind of high-stakes matches that true professionals crave and thrive in.
The Celtic manager’s philosophy focuses on rigorous preparation; he intends to work his team hard in training, sharpening their focus and readiness. The “fun” he refers to is about allowing his players to express themselves on the field this Saturday, to play with freedom and the kind of passion that such a significant game merits.
Clement, was either looking to be offended or whoever had delivered Rodgers’ lines to him had not given the Belgian any sort of context. He appeared momentarily to have let the pressure get to him and made comments that made it clear he was a little bit rattled. His reaction might be seen as a sign of the enormous stress that accompanies the weight of expectation at Ibrox. Of course, you get the usual hard of thinking begging the Ibrox manager to let that be their inspiration or motivation on Saturday, quite frankly, if you need anything else other than what’s already at stake to get up for this tie, you’re in the wrong profession.
A win for Celtic would not only extend their lead to six points with only two games left, effectively sealing the league title, but also solidify their continuing psychological edge. Conversely, a Rangers victory would pull the teams level on points, turning the spotlight to goal difference—where Celtic currently leads by five—as a potential decider in the title race.
The stage is set.
