Rangers manager Philippe Clement believes Rangers were denied a penalty before their ‘ »cruel » defeat to Celtic in the League Cup final.
Celtic clinched the trophy courtesy of a tense penalty shoot-out after the teams drew 3-3 in 120 enthralling minutes at Hampden Park.
But Clement was left fuming at VAR, believing his side should have been awarded a penalty early into the second half in what would have been a major turning point in the match.
Liam Scales grabbed a handful of Vaclav Cerny’s shirt and pulled him to the ground, receiving a yellow card for the foul. A free-kick was awarded right on the edge of the box.
Celtic’s Liam Scales pulls down Rangers’ Vaclav Cerny at the edge of the penalty box
« I don’t know if you saw the images back, but my phone is overloaded with the penalty situation with Cerny. I get hundreds of messages now about that. That’s also a really decisive moment in the game.
« Of course, he (the referee) cannot see that moment. But he didn’t get the communication from the VAR to come to watch the screen, which for me is a really weird situation. At least there’s no look about that kind of situation in this kind of game, about the situation that the referee can make a decision in that way.
« I didn’t see it at the time because I still have quite good eyes, but I cannot see that much distance if the foot is outside or inside or on the line.
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« So no, but my phone is full of messages from everybody. I don’t know. So those are things I cannot control.
« I know all of [the media] like to dive deep into things so maybe it’s an important moment to dig into that. About why there’s no communication in the moment about a big decision like that because it’s clear for everybody that it’s a game-deciding decision. »
Clement is yet to beat Celtic as Rangers manager but was proud of the attitude of his players.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement consoles Ridvan Yilmaz
« I would not like to be here speaking about a penalty because I want to speak about the team and what they did today, » Clement said. « How brave they were after a big European night on Thursday and giving a lot against Tottenham.
« Two days less recovery and showing the physical levels that they did today.
« Also the team spirit and the mentality and good football. I think it was a really good game for Scottish football, this final.
« Everybody can be happy about that but you want to win the trophy.
« But we had to do a lot of things extra to get it to our side if you don’t get a penalty like that. »
He believed the defeat, which came after Ridvan Yilmaz was the only player to fail to score his penalty, was « cruel ».
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