by Philippe Clement quickly learned that life in Glasgow as manager of Rangers, or indeed Celtic, is marked by extremes.
Right now, having pulled Rangers up by the straps and straight into the heart of a title race, he’s loved by half the city. The other half probably weren’t shy about showing him exactly what they thought of him either.
Fortunately, the Belgian is a master at keeping his focus on the task at hand, and whether it’s abusive Celtic punters or well-meaning Rangers fans who want a piece of him, he’s adept at putting on the blinkers .
It’s one of the great managerial cliches that they avoid watching opposition games or following their rivals’ results too closely, but that’s another thing that Clement has mastered instead of lasering into his intense fitness regime. .
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Clement turns 50 on Friday, but has rediscovered his passion for exercise since returning to Scotland, which helps his clarity of thought and at the same time distracts him from what he could do. be held elsewhere.
Take, for example, one Sunday a few weeks back when Celtic played Motherwell at Pine Park a day after Rangers destroyed Hearts at Ibrox. The Steelers were holding the champions at 1-1 going into stoppage time, but Clement was trying – not entirely successfully – to keep his focus on his fitness programme.
“I was in the gym,” Clement said.
“But, people would come and try to show me what the result was, and I had to tell them ‘I’m not looking, I’m doing my gym now!’
“So, no, I’m not looking at those games, not before us or after us.
“I watch all the games, highlights of all the games, and I look at our opponents before we play them. But I’m not sitting at home watching Celtic or Hearts or whatever.
“I forgot that part [staying fit] after my career. I was working hard at first as an assistant, and also if a player was injured or something then the coach would use me as an extra player.
“I did that for a few years until I got too much pain in my hip, and had an operation, and after that it was too dangerous to take those risks.
“So, I didn’t do it anymore, and in all the work I forgot myself and I didn’t do almost anything anymore until this period.
“From July until I came here, I had a lot more time, and I started doing sports again. I just felt, that is my life, and for my body and my mind it is also much better.
“I’ve always had a passion for sport, so now I have the gym, or it could also be a running hour or something.
“Those are the moments where I can relax and enjoy myself. For me, it’s a very pleasant moment.”
Clement would like to see a bit more of the country he now calls home, as would his assistant manager Stephan Van Der Heyden, but he knows his profile makes that difficult, something he is reminded of every time he goes he is in business.
“It’s a different role,” he said.
“We were assistants before with (Michel) Preud’homme, and back then I could do more things too. Now I can’t, but I don’t regret it. It’s my life, it’s my passion, it’s what I chose.
“There is a difference between being a manager and an assistant, that’s normal.
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“Not all the time [are people respectful], but not big things. The worst thing is that you get the middle finger from people or something, but I don’t care!
“I wouldn’t recommend it to my kids but if people feel it’s better to do that then so be it. It’s not my problem.”
Except of course, when he is in the company of his wife, who says that Mrs. Clement can handle herself.
“Yes, but I feel the difference when she is with me, that people keep more distance,” he laughed.
“So, I keep her close!”
Clement’s concern on the street is greater than the enthusiasm he has received from the Rangers support, with the synergy between the team, the Ibrox crowd and the dugout a factor he continually cites in explaining their success. rise in success. .
And he is determined to repay that support by delivering what they all want, a Premiership title party at Ibrox in mid-May.
“There’s a lot of love on both sides,” he said.
“I love them too, and I told you guys, this is what I missed.
“Having this support and this energy, the atmosphere in the stadium is brilliant.
“People are supporting the team all the time, and you also see the interaction between the players and the fans in emotions and moments.
“That’s why I love this job. Seeing these things, feeling these things. It’s about that.
“So, I’m very happy at the moment in that way, but I want to give more to the people and get one minute to put together a big explosion.
“I think it can be great.”
