Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon has strongly criticized Rangers boss Philippe Clement’s assertion of a ‘moral victory’ following the recent pulsating 3-3 draw in the highly anticipated Glasgow Derby held at Ibrox. Clement had publicly praised his team’s resilience and ability to come back from being down twice in the match, stating that Rangers were the “moral winners” of the encounter. However, Lennon was quick to dismiss this notion.
In an interview with PLZ Soccer, Lennon expressed his disagreement with the concept of moral victories in such high-stakes and fiercely contested games. “I was disappointed with someone’s comments after the game yesterday. I didn’t agree with it. I don’t know what a moral victory means in an Old Firm derby, If you ever get one. You either win it or you lose it,” he adamantly declared.
Not only did Lennon find Clement’s remarks surprising, but he also found fault with the Rangers boss attempting to downplay the penalty that Goldson conceded in the match, stating that there was no doubt it was a clear handball. Despite Celtic’s regret in not leaving Ibrox with all three points, he emphasized that they were content with the draw and likely the more satisfied team of the two.
The intensity of the Glasgow Derby often magnifies the emotions and reactions of managers and players alike, and both teams will now be looking forward to their next encounter with renewed determination and focus on claiming victory.
