Rangers boss Philippe Clement says Abdallah Sima’s disallowed aim of their Scottish Cup closing defeat to Celtic was not “black or white” however a “grey area”.
Celtic beat their rivals at Hampden Park because of Adam Idah’s Ninetieth-minute winner however solely after Rangers had a aim dominated out following a VAR verify.
Sima turned dwelling from James Tavernier’s nook within the 59th minute earlier than referee Nick Walsh consulted the pitchside monitor and chalked it off resulting from a push on Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart by Nicolas Raskin.
The incident got here after Rangers had a penalty enchantment turned down through the first half when Liam Scales pushed over Dujon Sterling within the field which Clement thought was extra apparent.
“If I compare with the push that [Liam] Scales gives to [Dujon] Sterling in the first half, it’s a much bigger push than what happened with Joe Hart,” stated Clement.
“If I see additionally how all of the Celtic gamers are grabbing my gamers with their arms round their neck and waist, it is a actually huge name to make to disallow that aim.
“It’s [the officials’] decision and they’re honest in their decisions. It’s a grey area that one, it’s not black or white.”
Sima celebrates just for his effort to be subsequently dominated out by VAR
Clement wasn’t ready in charge his personal goalkeeper Jack Butland for parrying Paulo Bernardo’s shot into the trail of Idah to attain the winner.
“No, I don’t think,” he stated after being requested if Butland was at fault. “It’s a really difficult shot. Jack was really good in the rest of the game and Joe Hart was really good. You can always say he could have pushed the ball to the side but it was [swerving]. That’s an unlucky moment.”
Clement claimed the opposition admitted Rangers have been the higher aspect after mounting durations of stress within the second half.
“The general thought is that you’re disappointed that you lost because even people of Celtic were saying we were the better team today,” he stated. “It’s mixed feelings, you’re disappointed because you did everything to win but I’m also proud of what the team has shown.
“We obtained two photographs on track [against], we obtained a aim and created six photographs on track. We have to rating in that second. After which when you have the situation the place you rating a aim and they’re disallowed that is additionally a disappointment.”
Adam Idah celebrates after scoring Celtic’s late winner
The Rangers boss stated his workforce ought to have put the sport past Celtic within the second half however that they have been hampered by the dearth of sharpness from their forwards.
“I expected more from my players because you feel in that moment you’re grabbing the game and there was a lot of space in the transitions and we didn’t kill it off there,” he stated.
“But I know where my players are coming from, you guys have asked a lot of questions about all the injuries. The squad is not at their best now, some players are coming out of injury. You see in the decisive moments a really fit Sima or [Rabbi] Matondo will finish off one of those chances. That was not the case.
“It is about one small element and one huge resolution. In any other case, you go 1-0 in entrance and we have been the higher workforce in that second. I do not suppose we may have performed way more. We may have performed some issues higher however that is the identical for the opposite aspect. I do not suppose they anticipated the sort of sport.”
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