Barry Ferguson is not amused with the state of play at Rangers and even the Ibrox legend is struggling to turn things around.
Ferguson laid into the Rangers team after the shock 2-0 defeat to Hibs in the Scottish Premiership, a result which stretches the Gers’ record-breaking run of home defeats to five games.
Neil McCann hinted a lack of adaptability was to blame for recent issues before the match, suggesting Philippe Clement was too wedded to one system in Glasgow.
Now Barry Ferguson has taken an indirect swipe at the former Rangers manager, suggesting that Clement’s approach has stifled one young talent’s development.
Barry Ferguson in thinly veiled Bailey Rice jibe at Philippe Clement
Ian McCall might’ve criticised Bailey Rice for his performance in the second half of that comeback win over Dundee but Barry Ferguson has been highly complimentary.
McCann suggested Rice played through the pain barrier to help Rangers to that late Scottish Premiership victory over Dundee and Ferguson touched on Rice’s situation at full-time v Hibs.
Bailey Rice missed the clash with Hibs due to a subsequent injury problem and Ferguson, in the midst of his anger, suggested the teenager’s development has been stunted.
It comes as Ferguson suggested both Rice and Findlay Curtis could play a role against Athletic Bilbao at Ibrox.
“Bailey, I think, is a bit behind in development,” Ferguson told RangersTV.
“Listen, [Rice is a] fantastic talent. You’ve seen the effect he had when he came on last Saturday. Unfortunately for him, he took a sore one in his knee. Went for a scan, it’s come back.
“Hopefully, he’s going to be available on Thursday.”
Michael Beale and Philippe Clement clash on Bailey Rice
It’s not the first time that a Rangers manager has appeared to disagree with Philippe Clement when it comes to Bailey Rice.
Back in September 2023 Michael Beale claimed that Rice was ‘ready’ to make an impact at Ibrox and that the midfielder was a ‘heck of a player’.
”I’m telling you that we have a heck of a player in Bailey Rice,” said Beale.
“He’s not 17 until the end of next month but when I introduce him to this madhouse and protecting him is important. But I’m telling you, he’s ready.”
But after Beale was sacked and Philippe Clement took charge, the Belgian had a decidedly different point of view.
By December, Clement had this to say on Rice: “He’s for me a really talented player and I think he has a great future in this club but there are also some points we need to work on which are different Academy football and the first team, for sure without ball.
“So that’s a really important step to make and he’s going to make that step. If he makes that step then he’s going to be pushing for positions in the first team.”
Barry Ferguson in thinly-veiled ‘behind in development’ Philippe Clement jibe that Michael Beale would agree with
