Alious**Philippe Clement Breaks Silence Amid Steven Gerrard Return Rumors After Rangers’ Scottish Cup Exit**
Under-fire Rangers manager **Philippe Clement** has finally addressed swirling rumors linking **Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard** with a sensational return to **Ibrox**, following the club’s shocking Scottish Cup exit.
Rangers’ hopes for domestic silverware were dealt a crushing blow after a stunning upset defeat to **Queen’s Park**, a second-tier side. This devastating loss, coupled with a daunting **13-point gap** behind bitter rivals **Celtic** in the Premiership, has left the **Europa League** as Clement’s only realistic chance to salvage the season.
### **Clement Stands Firm Amid Sacking Speculation**
In the aftermath of the defeat, Clement faced intense scrutiny over his future but remained defiant, dismissing any notion of stepping down. He argued that sacking him would be a rash decision driven by emotion rather than logic.
> *“I don’t expect to be fired,”* Clement asserted. *“Would the result have been different with another manager? I don’t think so. Progress doesn’t vanish in 90 minutes. We’ve reached the top eight in Europe, shown more consistency in the league—none of that changes because of one bad result. Making decisions based purely on emotion would be a mistake.”*
His remarks come as speculation intensifies about Gerrard’s potential return. The former Rangers boss, who famously led the club to their first league title in a decade in **2021**, is currently without a job after parting ways with **Al-Ettifaq** in the Saudi Pro League last month.
### **Gerrard’s Ibrox Return? Rangers Legends Weigh In**
The possibility of Gerrard’s comeback has sparked plenty of debate among football pundits and former players. **Ally McCoist**, a Rangers icon with **355 goals** to his name, believes the timing could be perfect for Gerrard to reignite his managerial career in Glasgow.
> *“It wouldn’t surprise me if Steven Gerrard came back to Ibrox,”* McCoist told **talkSPORT BET**. *“The fans still hold him in high regard because of the title win. His next job is crucial after things didn’t go as planned at Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq. A return to Rangers could be exactly what he needs.”*
Echoing McCoist’s sentiments, former Celtic boss **Neil Lennon** also suggested that a Gerrard reunion with Rangers isn’t out of the question.
> *“You never know in football,”* Lennon said during an interview with **Casino Uden Rofus**. *“Today it’s Clement at the helm, but things change fast. Gerrard could return—football has a way of surprising us.”*
### **Rangers’ Cup Exit Sparks Fan Fury**
The Scottish Cup defeat marked a new low for Clement’s tenure. The atmosphere at Ibrox turned toxic as the final whistle blew, with fans booing loudly after **James Tavernier’s 97th-minute penalty miss** sealed Rangers’ fate. It was a historic loss—Rangers had **never been knocked out at home by a lower-league team** until now.
Clement didn’t hold back in his post-match interview, visibly furious with both the performance and the result.
> *“I’m angry and frustrated,”* he admitted. *“The cup was one of our biggest goals this season, our quickest path to silverware, and we blew it. The performance was unacceptable.”*
He criticized his players for undoing the goodwill they had built with supporters in recent weeks:
> *“They had regained credit with the fans, but today they lost it all. The fans are right to be angry—I’m angry too. We lost composure in the second half, played with too much emotion, and didn’t show the calmness we’ve had in recent months.”*
### **What’s Next for Rangers?**
With domestic silverware slipping away, Clement’s future hangs in the balance. The **Europa League** now carries even greater significance, not just for the club’s trophy ambitions but potentially for Clement’s job security.
Meanwhile, the Gerrard rumors refuse to die down. Whether the Rangers board will make a bold move to bring back the man who restored their domestic dominance remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Clement’s position has never looked more precarious, and the clock may be ticking.
Alious
