Rangers Manager Philippe Clement Reflects on Cup Final Defeat and Referee Transparency

Ahead of Saturday’s Premiership fixture against Dundee at home, Rangers manager Philippe Clement addressed the media. Clement acknowledged that the club experienced significant pain following Sunday’s League Cup final defeat, stating it “hurt really a lot for everybody in the club.” This sentiment arose from the belief that “the rules of the game are not followed” in a situation he described as a clear-cut decision, not a grey area. The Belgian manager expressed appreciation for the transparency demonstrated by Scottish FA referees chief Willie Collum, who conceded it was “unacceptable” that a penalty was not awarded to Rangers for Liam Scales’ foul on Vaclav Cerny. Clement stated, “We appreciate the honesty for sure.” He added that while it “doesn’t help in the end,” everyone at the club hopes Collum “is not alone in his fight to gets standards better.” Clement remarked that it was unfortunate the penalty controversy had become the sole focus, considering the final’s intensity and the quality of play from both teams. He emphasized his desire for improved standards across all of Scottish football, not exclusively for Rangers. He encouraged his players to concentrate on future matches and “stop thinking about it,” highlighting the importance of securing three points against Dundee. Clement also noted, “you see a really big evolution the last couple of months.” Oscar Cortes is available for selection but will not be in the starting lineup. No new injury concerns have emerged, and despite a flu bug circulating within the facility, Clement anticipates no impact on team selection.