Rangers manager Philippe Clement has explained why Ridvan Yilmaz and not Cyriel Dessers took a penalty in the Premier Sports Cup Final defeat to Celtic.
The Gers are licking their wounds after succumbing to a 5-4 penalty kicks defeat against their eternal rivals following an enthralling 3-3 clash at Hampden.
The match has been overshadowed by a controversial decision not to award Rangers a penalty for a clear tug in the box which was given by the referee as a free kick.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has demanded an inquest into the VAR in the aftermath of the situation and also hailed Ridvan Yilmaz for stepping up to take the spot kick.
The Ibrox gaffer has also explained that Cyriel Dessers was next in line to hit a kick at Hampden.
Philippe Clement on Cyriel Dessers penalty
“(Cyriel Dessers) was on the list further,” Clement told Premier Sports. “He was the sixth normally to take the penalty.
”But we’ve been practising penalties all season and Jack (Butland) did really well in all this series, so we had a good eye who was good.
”We had more than five players to take a good penalty. Ridvan (Yilmaz) is normally also really good.
”But today he missed or the goalkeeper saved, it was not even a miss.
”That’s part of football. I know a lot of really big players, legends of the world of football, who missed a penalty or even didn’t put a ball on target.
”It’s part of the casino of penalty taking.”
James Tavernier on Ridvan Yilmaz
Rangers captain James Tavernier has also praised Ridvan Yilmaz for stepping up to take a spot kick against Celtic.
Rangers fans have criticised Cyriel Dessers for not stepping up to hit the penalty and the Ibrox skipper has praised those who did take a spot kick at Hampden.
”Mostly proud for him to step up and be a man and take a penalty,” Tavernier told RangersTV.
”It happens to footballers. It happens to a lot. So the team are right behind him, we’re all talking to him.
”He’s just got to forget about this and carry on.”
