Philippe Clement expresses frustration over the handling of Rangers’ player Todd Cantwell, who is set to be sidelined for a month due to a certain incident or treatment.

Philippe Clement expresses his dissatisfaction with the treatment Rangers’ player Todd Cantwell received during the match against St Johnstone, attributing it to the injury that will keep Cantwell out of action for a month. The Ibrox playmaker had to leave the field during last week’s victory against St Johnstone due to a physically demanding encounter, with a challenge from David Keltjens going unpunished just before the opening goal.

Clement is critical of the level of physicality directed at Cantwell, particularly pointing out the challenge that went unpenalized. He suggests that referee Matthew MacDermid could have taken a stronger stance during the match. Despite his concern for Cantwell’s injury, Clement clarifies that he is not seeking special protection for his star players.

Clement acknowledges Cantwell’s positive evolution in terms of attitude but believes that more protection could have been afforded to him during the game, considering the challenges he faced. He emphasizes that he does not intend to delve into refereeing discussions but maintains that referees should follow the rules of the game to ensure a good product of football.

The Rangers manager argues that referees should maintain an unbiased approach and not prioritize the protection of one player over another. Instead, their role is to uphold the rules, foster a fluent football game, and intervene when necessary to maintain the rhythm and flow of the match. Clement concludes that he will never request special protection for a specific player, as it goes against the correct mentality towards the game.