Rangers’ performance in the League Cup final against Celtic was a stark contrast to their previous derby encounter, despite ultimately falling short in a penalty shootout. For 120 minutes, including extra time, Rangers showed a level of intensity and commitment that many had doubted they could summon just weeks earlier.
Not long ago, optimism among Rangers fans was scarce, with a significant 11-point gap between the teams in the league, compounded by the team’s inconsistent form. Their 3-0 defeat to Celtic in September had led many to question their ability to challenge for silverware. But something changed in recent weeks. As former Ibrox striker Billy Dodds remarked on BBC Sportsound, “Rangers’ performances have flicked a switch.”
“Three weeks ago, something changed. “Rangers were ready for this,” Dodds said, adding, “Now they have to prove they’ve set the bar, and it’s the long-term vision.”
Despite going 2-1 down after initially taking the lead at Hampden Park, Rangers refused to crumble. Their heads didn’t drop, and they continued to battle, showing a resilience that was lacking in their previous encounters. Celtic defender Liam Scales praised their effort, describing the match as “the battle” and acknowledging the “carnage” that ensued.
According to Dodds, Rangers displayed “the right mental strength” for a contest against the league champions. Former Ibrox player Neil McCann echoed this sentiment, saying that Rangers were “miles ahead of where they were” in September. Even losing manager Phillipe Clement could take some solace in the performance, with former Scotland defender Willie Miller calling it “a good cup final” for Rangers, despite the defeat.
“If losing in a cup final can be a good thing, that is,” Miller added. “I think Phillipe Clement can rightly say that they played well and can make a case to the fans that his players are beginning to respond to what he wants them to do.”
However, Clement expressed frustration with a key decision in the second half when his side was denied what many, including him, believed was a clear penalty. The referee awarded only a free-kick after Celtic’s player tugged and clipped Rangers’ Vaclav Cerny just outside the box. Clement revealed he received “hundreds of messages” claiming that the foul was on the line and should have resulted in a penalty. He also questioned why the officials didn’t consult VAR, saying, “The referee cannot see that moment, but he didn’t receive the VAR communication to come to the screen, which is weird for me.”
The lack of outrage from Rangers players, however, surprised McCann and fellow pundit Scott Allan. McCann said he was “amazed the Rangers players weren’t going berserk,” while Allan noted that Cerny didn’t protest the decision as much as expected.
Another missed opportunity came when Rangers failed to capitalize on a four-on-one breakaway. Cerny, who had won back possession, played through Hamza Igamane, but Igamane passed to Nedim Bajrami instead of returning it to the unmarked Cerny or Mohamed Diomande. Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers blocked the cross, wasting the chance and frustrating Clement, who described it as “really disappointing that we made the wrong decision.”
Though Rangers ultimately lost their grip on the trophy, the performance marked a significant improvement from their earlier struggles in the season. Despite their regrets over missed chances and decisions, they left the field with renewed confidence and a clear sense of the progress made under Clement. With eyes now on future trophies, Rangers are determined to use the lessons from this defeat to fuel their ambitions for the remainder of the season.
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