Philippe Clement admits ‘brutal’ Celtic treatment in Glasgow reflection

Celtic FC v Rangers FC - Cinch Scottish Premiership — Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Philippe Clement has admitted to having some ‘brutal’ interactions with Celtic fans during his time in Glasgow.

The former Rangers manager has reflected on his 16-month spell in Glasgow which saw him lose four trophies to Celtic. He is now in charge of Norwich City.

Clement’s time at Ibrox was one of many false dawns on that side of the city amid a period of domestic dominance by the Hoops. The Belgian boss lost two cup finals to Celtic at Hampden.

Anyone who has spent time managing in Glasgow will understand the landscape, and having experienced it first-hand, he reflected on his ‘brutal’ treatment from Hoops fans.

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Philippe Clement: ‘It’s brutal in words sometimes’

Reflecting on his spell with Glasgow, Clement told talkSPORT: “I don’t want to go back too much in that story, it’s been in the past. I don’t think it was the right timing to be at the club; you saw a few months later that the club was sold to the American owners.

“They have now put a lot of money in to get Rangers back to where they should be, and where I wanted them to be, because I will stay a Rangers fan for all of my life. It’s an amazing club with amazing fans, and a great city to live in also, how everybody lives and breathes football.

“I look back with really good memories, but it was maybe the wrong time at that moment. It is what it is, but that’s football. Every club has its difficulties or challenges. That’s why I love the challenges.

“In Rangers we have to win every game or it was a disaster. Here [at Norwich] it’s different, but it’s also different means. At Rangers we had one of the two best squads in the league and had European football, so we had a game every three days. I think both are challenging tasks.

“Everybody lives for football there in Glasgow. Everyone you meet is either for or against you. It’s brutal with the reactions sometimes, but it’s never been dangerous or something where I felt afraid but it can be brutal in words, sometimes, for sure, when you meet fans of the other side!

“But I love that also, that passion of people. I don’t think you can find many places in the world where you can find the same.”