Following the last humiliating chapter on Sunday in what is becoming a real page change for a season for the Rangers, Philippe Clement set up another defense of the indefensible.
Asked if he would consider his future of Ibrox after the departure of the Scottish Cup at the hands of Howly Queen's Park, the boss replied: 'No, I don't expect this (talk to the board) because you can put another manager in this game – would it be different in this sense?
In retrospect, it would probably be better for the Belgian not asking questions to those who don't like the answer.
Clement, of course, believes that the change is unnecessary and that the club is evolving. And yes, a glass cup in isolation should necessarily mean the end of a manager. But, since the league rangers have already slipped this season, Sunday could not be considered only an error. It was not the equivalent of Arne's slot that sends Liverpool reserves against Plymouth and got rid of.
In fact, if you are looking for a more relevant comparison, then a much closer to the home was provided.
It was 25 years ago today that the then Parkhead manager, John Barnes, was shown the door after the infamous departure from the Club Cup at the hands of Inverness 'Super Caley' Thistle.
Philippe Clement insisted that he would not give up following the horror show of the Scottish Cup of his club
James Tavernier's late penalty said the Rangers fell to their worst annoying
The 3-1 victory of Inverness Caley Thistle in Celtic Park wrote the end of John Barnes in 2000
The Celtic Board took 48 hours before issuing its verdict and the brief mandate of the Liverpool legend at the east end of Glasgow had finished. Kenny Dalglysh intervened until the end of the season, with the club finally finished a gigantic 21 points behind the Rangers.
Martin O'Neill was appointed that summer, Northern Irish delivered three titles in five more years more an unforgettable race for the UEFA Cup final in Seville. A different manager * can * make a difference, it seems …
The 1-0 defeat of the Rangers on the other side of the championship is possibly the equivalent in terms of cup shocks. Certainly, the followers's reaction has been equally fierce.
All they have left is a place in the last 16 of the Europa League. And of course, fans could dream of another final. It has happened before. But is that really what matters?
It may seem strange to rule out an opportunity in European glory, but if the rangers finally do not begin to look at the overview, Celtic's domestic domain will continue with nausea.
The great money is in the Champions League. For the Rangers, it would be a game change. But unless they stop dinner at the Europa League children's table and pretend that it is for adults, then they will stay more behind their rivals.
Robin Propper sinks on his knees while the Ibrox club slides to his last humiliating setback
A goal from the second half of Queen Drozd's Park substitute was enough to seal a seismic shock
Clement repeatedly speaks about the 'progression' of his squad. But a starting point for that would be the coherence of performance and that has simply happened.
Win, lose, repeat. At every step ahead it is followed by a head of the head by the stairs, regardless of one step or two behind.
'They received credit with fans in recent weeks and months. Today, they lost everything, '' Clement admitted on Sunday of a team that contained a large number of regular customers of the first team.
But then he pointed out his success in Europe. The Belgian uses it as a shield, but cannot deviate from the truth of the matter. In fact, it simply emphasizes that they are still serious problems in terms of mentality if a team can perform in the continent, but cannot hack it in the difficult game of the Scottish game.
If an old company manager does not understand that he needs a team to compete for the Premier League, first of all, then he is surely failing what in the jargon of the current club's corporate strategy would be called 'Mission One'. Certainly it should not be an impossible mission in what is still a two -horse race.
The CEO of the Rangers, Patrick Stewart, said that finances would not dictate if Clement survived in the hot seat, so the money is apparently there if they decide enough is enough.
So, really, the only question that the Ibrox Board should do is: Do you think Clement is the right -term long -term man?
The rangers had never lost at home on one side of the lower division in the Scottish Cup
Cyriel Dessers reveals a lost opportunity for the Rangers, a family view for fans in Ibrox
It is understandable, given the recent rotating door of managers in the Rangers, which are reluctant to admit that it is not.
Look at a club like Manchester United that has gone through the bosses at an alarming pace since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. And they have not brought them the success they need.
Therefore, precaution on naming the adequate man for work is necessary. But correcting an obvious error does not require such circumspection.
Parkhead's manager Brendan Rodgers has previously spoken that the 'weight of the shirt' is different when asked why a player who had considered surplus of the requirements had managed to leave the club. It is the same for those on the bench.
To be fair, Clement has remained publicly stoic in front of fierce criticism this season and all Old Firm managers must be strong. But there is a failure in the character of his team and the evidence suggests that his personality force is simply not strong enough to avoid the harmful lapses that have ruined their season.
“Clement has already had many criticisms, and rightly so, in my opinion,” said former Rangers striker Kris Boyd. 'Thirteen points behind Celtic in the League, from the Scottish Cup with Queen's Park at home and lost the final of the League Cup against Celtic. Yes, they have qualified for the last 16 of the Europa League, but at the national level, when it was growing, it was the whole and the end of everything. And right now it is not good enough.
'You talk about not wanting the rinse and repetition of the managers: you have to do it until you find the appropriate manager. It cannot be said because we fire the last three managers that we are going to continue with this. It doesn't work that way.
Clement was optimistic about his position immediately after defeat
Barnes only had to wait 48 hours before being expelled from her misery after the loss of invertness
Of course, those who question what change of manager would achieve, including Clement, they would also ask who could do a better job. And it is a fair question. Any appointment is, of course, a bet.
Call a “Rangers” man and will be called a dinosaur. Suggest using Analytics, Hearts and you are an XG Hipster.
In truth, personality must enter that. This is a job that weighs more than most. You need wide shoulders and a focused mind.
Managers who have achieved success in the last 25 years in Scotland have been fierce, either O'Neill or Walter Smith, Gordon Strachan or Alex Mcleish, Rodgers or Steven Gerrard.
The rangers need a fire on. It depends on your board to provide it.