Rangers manager Philippe Clement has hit out at the SPFL and Sky Sports over the scheduling of Sunday’s Premiership clash with Hibs.
Clement’s side were thrust into a noon kick-off at Ibrox after arriving back in Glasgow in the early hours of Friday morning following the Europa League victory at Malmo.
Rangers looked laboured and fatigued, with only a first-half goal from Tom Lawrence to show for a nervy victory over a Hibs side who had good chances.
Mykola Kukharevych had a penalty saved by Rangers keeper Jack Butland towards the end of the first half, with Dwight Gayle missing a terrific chance with a header in the dying moments.
Clement admitted his side were off the pace, but insisted they were not helped by the scheduling and such a swift turnaround.
With the game broadcast live on Sky, he claimed the issue will lead to lower quality in terms of the product being aired.
Clement, right, was unhappy with noon kick-off after Euro game last Thursday night
Rangers boss Clement has words with referee Nick Walsh at full-time of Hibs game
Tom Lawrence scored the only goal for Rangers with a superb first-half strike
‘The performance was not incredible, but that’s difficult playing that early after a European game away,’ said the Belgian.
‘The recovery time was much less. Some leagues look at giving teams more recovery time. I saw less freshness in the players than I have in the last couple of weeks. That’s normal.
‘In a lot of countries now, in the last couple of years, you look at when the games are played. Some teams don’t even play around European games, like we had with Kyiv for example [in Champions League qualifiers].
‘So you play today at 12 o’clock after a European trip where you come home around two o’clock [on Friday morning] at Auchenhowie.
‘Then you need to drive back home, some players sleep if they are lucky around four hours.
‘You have training the next day, you lost one night of sleep, you have one night of sleep on Saturday, and then you need to wake up really early to be ready for this game.
‘So, yes, I saw several players or almost everybody who played on Thursday, and even the guys who didn’t play, they were less fresh than in the last couple of weeks. It’s normal.
‘It’s important to take the three points. We had a lot of the ball and the best chances in this game. So that’s what you want.
‘Do I want better football? Yes, for sure. Do the players want that? Also, yes, for sure. You want to see what we saw on Thursday in Malmo.
‘But it’s important also in these moments when you are less fresh, when you are tired, to dig in, to get the results and take the three points.’
Asked if he had raised his concerns with the SPFL, Clement continued: ‘No, it’s too late for that. I’m not the guy who has contact with the SPFL.
‘I don’t know the people there. There are other people in the club who talked about that the last couple of months.
‘But, at the end, it’s you guys [media] or the television who decides apparently. But it’s something to think about if you want to have good quality product.
‘Because it’s a massive difference to sleep longer today and have a three or five o’clock kick-off. It’s a big difference.
‘I understand people who never played, who never travelled in that way, they don’t understand.
‘Because it’s like you need to be there every game and you need to run every time because you’re well paid – and that’s true also. But there’s a difference for every athlete in every sport.’
Jack Butland was the hero for Rangers after saving penalty from Kukharevych of Hibs
Butland gives the thumbs-up to supporters at full-time at Ibrox
Ekpiteta of Hibs and Igamane of Rangers tussle near to the touchline
Neil Warnock was a surprise visitor to Ibrox for Sunday’s 1-0 win over Hibs
Clement was pleased with the way his team were able to grind out the victory, with Rangers keeping a fourth clean sheet on the bounce.
That was thanks in no small part to Butland, with the Ibrox No 1 saving a penalty from Hibs striker Kukharevych towards the end of the first half.
But Clement was adamant it should never have been a spot-kick, despite the fact the ball hit John Souttar’s arm from a Kukharevych shot.
‘Jack showed his quality and made a massive save for us with the penalty,’ he said. ‘But I totally don’t agree with the penalty. Unhappy is not the right word – more confused. We discussed this with the referees before the season.
‘The decisions have been much better, but I don’t see what John [Souttar] can do differently. It’s a short distance. He cannot make his arms disappear.
‘We had these discussions before the season and it was really constructive, very good with almost all the managers there, with the referee department.
‘And you’ve seen a clear change in the first weeks of the season in that way. There were several moments that there were no penalties given in situations where last year there was a penalty.
‘This one is for me in that line. We will have discussions probably this week because it’s important also as a manager to explain to your players what is a penalty or not.
‘But look back at the images. John wants to block the ball so he puts his leg up. To put your leg up, you need to find balance. He cannot make his arm disappear.
‘I know there is a grey zone. It’s about being clear towards your players what is a penalty or not,’ added Clement, who confirmed that Mohamed Diomande should be available for Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Lyon at Ibrox.
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Publish date : 2024-09-29 14:30:00
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