Rangers boss Clement insists result of Old Firm clash won't decide Premiership title

Philippe Clement says the result of this weekend’s Old Firm clash won’t decide the title despite both sides being neck and neck at the top.

The Rangers boss admits that it will be a big game and said he has noticed a sense of excitement building over the match while out and about in Glasgow.

But he played down any talk of it being a title decider and insists there is still a long way to go, including a game in the other end of the city, so he won’t be counting any chickens regardless of the score on Sunday.

Champions Celtic are currently at the top of the Premiership but are only one point ahead of Clement’s side who also have a game in hand.

A victory for Rangers at Ibrox would leave them with a chance to go five points clear when they take on Dundee in midweek, while a win for Celtic could see them build up a cushion and have home advantage in the final Old Firm game of the season that will take place after the split.

However there is still a lot of football to be played until the end of the May with treble chasing Rangers facing eight games and Celtic seven.

Speaking to the media on Friday, the Belgian said: “It’s a big game we know. It’s a six point game and we will have another one in a few weeks.

“But it’s not yet a decisive game, whoever wins is not the champion, it’s not like that.

“I am happy with what I have seen from my team since the last Old Firm. Since that game (at Celtic Park) we have had 11 league games and took 30 points from a possible 33.

“We have also scored more goals than Celtic in that period and conceded less, so we have consistency but that is not a guarantee for anything.

“I see my team growing month by month. From the beginning I have been clear, I don’t want a team that stays in emotion from a result and the next game they are not there.

“These games are decided in details and moments.

“We work really hard on our structure, on our discipline, on our tasks and on our confidence also. Consistency to know what to do with and without the ball.

“When you walk around the town you see how big this game is, everyone wants to talk about this game. It is amazing to work in this environment, where everyone is living football and feels the passion.”