Philippe Clement: Celtic Clash in League Cup Final ‘A Good Thing’
Ibrox manager Philippe Clement has expressed his enthusiasm for facing Celtic in the Premier Sports League Cup Final on December 15. Clement’s team struggled against Motherwell in the semi-final but ultimately secured a 2-1 victory, thanks to goals from Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami.
Clement’s Perspective
In the post-match conference, Clement shared his thoughts on the upcoming final. “It’s a big challenge. The biggest in Scotland. That’s also a good thing. It’s the next step to take to win this Cup again,” he said. “We had that amazing feeling together with the fans last season, and we can battle for that again.”
Celtic’s Dominant Semi-Final Performance
Meanwhile, Celtic effortlessly defeated Aberdeen 6-0 in their semi-final match. Daizen Maeda scored a hat-trick, with contributions from Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Nicolas Kuhn. This dominant display has made Celtic the favorites to win the League Cup.
Clement’s Analysis of the Motherwell Match
Clement acknowledged the difficulties his team faced against Motherwell. “It was probably the worst scenario that you can have, starting the game well, creating chances, and then on the first really dangerous ball in the box, you concede.” However, Clement praised his team’s resilience.
“This needs to be also a reference game for this new squad. To do what we’ve been doing a lot last season and it’s to dig in and in every situation, to keep our belief, to keep going, to keep fighting if we go behind,” he said.
Pressure and Expectations
Clement recognizes the pressure on his team, particularly after their poor start to the season. “We feel the pressure that we hate to lose, so the pressure is out of ourselves. We want to react. We want to be better,” he stated.
Celtic’s Advantage
Celtic’s dominant performance against Aberdeen and their current lead in the Premiership table make them favorites for the League Cup Final. Brendan Rodgers’ team will likely pose significant challenges for Ibrox.
Ibrox’s Recent Struggles
Ibrox has struggled in recent times, trailing Celtic and Aberdeen by nine points in the Premiership. Their Champions League qualification campaign was also cut short after losing to Kyiv Dinamo.
Europa League Performance
Ibrox has picked up six points from three outings in the Europa League but suffered an embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Lyon at Ibrox last month.
Clement’s Tactical Approach
Clement’s tactics will be crucial in the League Cup Final. He must find a balance between defense and attack to counter Celtic’s potent offense.
Player Performance
Key players like Cyriel Dessers, Nedim Bajrami, and James Tavernier will be essential to Ibrox’s success.
Conclusion
Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side faces an uphill battle against Celtic in the League Cup Final. While Clement remains optimistic, Celtic’s recent form suggests they have the upper hand.
Recommendations
- Monitor Ibrox’s team dynamics and strategy.
- Analyze Celtic’s attacking formations.
- Focus on set pieces and counter-attacks.
References:
Celtic FC
Ibrox
Premier Sports League Cup
Philippe Clement
Brendan Rodgers
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