ROLE REVERSAL This time last year Clement had Midas touch. Now it's Thelin ... and he could hold the Rangers manager's fate in his hands on Wednesday
Almost 12 months have passed since Philippe Clement stood on the pitch at Hampden and hoisted the League Cup high above his head.
Clutching the trophy in one hand and raising a clenched fist with the other, the image became emblematic of the Belgian’s impressive start to life at Rangers.
As the rain poured from the skies, supporters felt sure that the 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at the national stadium last December would prompt a deluge of silverware.
Having taken charge of Rangers only two months earlier, the ink was barely dry on Clement’s contract but he had reeled off 11 wins and three draws in his first 14 games, as well as bagging a trophy.
He was a manager who looked like he could do no wrong. Speaking after captain James Tavernier had scored the winning goal, the Rangers boss said: ‘It’s an incredible night for us. That’s why I do this job, to share it with players, staff and fans. I get my energy from that. It’s incredible.
‘It’s great to get our hands on silverware after just nine weeks together. There’s not one fan or board member who is more demanding to win than me. That’s my character.’
The stakes are high for Philippe Clement at Pittodrie on Wednesday night
Rangers boss holds League Cup aloft last year, but his popularity has been on the wane
Jimmy Thelin has revitalised Aberdeen and poses a huge threat to Rangers
How different the picture now looks as Clement prepares to face Aberdeen once again at Pittodrie on Wednesday night.
In something of a role reversal, it is Jimmy Thelin who now looks to be the man with the Midas touch. The Aberdeen manager has engineered a stunning start to the season for the Dons.
The Swede’s side have racked up 14 wins and one draw in their 15 matches in all competitions so far, sitting level on points with Celtic at the top of the table.
Rangers sit six points further back. If that gap was to be extended to nine points tomorrow, it would only heap more pressure on Clement.
Almost 12 months ago, he was worshipped by Rangers supporters following that victory over Aberdeen at Hampden.
In the here and now, he heads for Pittodrie as a manager struggling to convince the fans he’s still the right man for the job.
The levels of discontent at Rangers were evident once again during Sunday’s 2-1 win over St Mirren at Ibrox.
The section of the Rangers support known as the Union Bears held up two banners, both bearing messages aimed at the club’s board.
‘Your ineptitude is destroying our club. Time for fans to force change,’ said the first one, held up shortly after Clement’s side had gone 1-0 ahead.
Dons kept up their superb run after Peter Ambrose scored winner against Dundee United
Thelin has Dons level on points with Celtic at top of table and six ahead of Rangers
Another was held up later in the match which read: ‘Worrying about thousands while wasting millions.’
If those scathing words were larged aimed at the Rangers hierarchy, the manager and players are hardly free from blame as well.
Despite having been in charge for some while now, Clement has struggled to impose any style of play on this Rangers team.
They continue to look fragile and disjointed. That was typified in the unimpressive nature of their performance against St Mirren at the weekend.
The 4-0 victory over Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League last Thursday night felt like it might be a step in the right direction.
But, for long spells of the contest against the Paisley side, Rangers seemed intent on taking two backwards.
After the match, Clement admitted his team had been far from their best and acknowledged that a major improvement will be required against Aberdeen.
That would be true of any Rangers team whose form is patchy as they head to Pittodrie, but all the more so given what is unfolding under Thelin in the Granite City.
On the basis of what has happened so far this season, and the form shown by both teams, Aberdeen should rightly start the match as favourites on home soil.
There is a belief and conviction to what they are doing. They are scoring late goals and finding new ways to churn out victories week in, week out.
Different players are stepping up to contribute, such as substitute Peter Ambrose, who came off the bench to score a late winner in the 1-0 victory over Dundee United on Saturday night.
Speaking to people around the Dons, there remains a sense of caution any time the prospect of a title challenge is mentioned. It’s almost treated like blasphemy. But Aberdeen can only keep things quiet and fly under the radar for so long.
If they beat Rangers on Wednesday night, having already been to Celtic Park and fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 earlier this month, fans will be shouting from the rooftops.
Not only about their chances of splitting the Old Firm clubs this season, but about the prospect of them pushing Celtic all the way and mounting a genuine title challenge.
Rangers defeated St Mirren at the weekend but they were still far from convincing
Manager Clement remains under pressure ahead of what is now a huge trip to Pittodrie
Clement was asked about Aberdeen’s start to the season on Sunday and whether he views them as title contenders.
‘They have made an exceptional start, if you see the amount of points they have,’ he said. ‘So it’s going to be a big challenge, I’m looking forward to that.
‘It’s the next challenge for this new squad, for a lot of the players to play there for the first time.
‘I know the atmosphere from last season, so it’s a good place to go. We had a really good night there last season and I want to repeat that.
‘I think they [Aberdeen] did exceptionally well. If they keep this level all season, then they will be in contention.’
Clement has some big selection calls to make, most notably on the fitness of John Souttar. Now the club’s first-choice centre-back, he has been excellent this season and has also broken back into the Scotland team.
The manager revealed that he had no option but to rest the defender for the St Mirren match after being advised to do so by the club’s medics and sports scientists.
But Rangers are quietly optimistic that Souttar should be able to play in what is now shaping up to be the biggest match of the club’s season so far.
Clement knows the stakes are high. The pressure and scrutiny has intensified over the past week or so, particularly after a woeful defeat at Kilmarnock last weekend.
Rangers can’t afford to spill any more points. Going up against Thelin’s red-hot Dons, it’s a match which Clement and his players dare not lose.
