Philippe Clement insists Rangers were dumped out of the Champions League by Dynamo Kyiv because of ‘the decision of one person’.
Marco Guida shockingly opted to brandish a red card to Jefte less than five minutes after the re-start at half-time.
The Brazilian was penalised for what appeared to be a perfectly fair aerial challenge on the edge of Dynamo’s box. However, the Italian referee swiftly stopped the game and flashed a second yellow card to send the 20-year-old the field at Hampden Park.
Clement says this changed the course of the game to the detriment of his team, as he blamed Guida for spoiling the ‘dreams’ of his dressing room to play in the Champions League, with the visitors running out 2-0 winners on the night.
“I’ve seen the images back and it’s clearly not even a foul,” the 50-year-old explained. “He jumps higher than the man, that’s everything that happens. He doesn’t move his arm towards the man or whatever.
“It’s an incredibly decisive decision in this game. Everybody who watched this game will have seen that we were the better team on the ball against a good Dynamo Kyiv team.
“We had a few chances, it was difficult to open up things but we knew that they would get tired during the second half, then five minutes after half time you get a red card like that.
“You get a big knock from that because it’s a decisive moment in the game. Even then, after that with 10, I’m really proud of my players for what they showed. Until we got a goal against at the end, we were the team getting the better and most dangerous moments.
“This decision was a game-changer, and that’s really hard for my dressing room. With the decision of one person, you take away the dream of a whole dressing room. That’s really hard.”
Rangers will now drop into the league phase of the Europa League after their loss to Dynamo.
The Ibrox side were obviously hoping to join arch-rivals Celtic at the top table of European club football in the Champions League and all the riches that tournament brings.
Clement is under no illusions that failure to achieve that means that it could have an impact on their financial capabilities to get some transfers done before the end of the window. However, the Belgian says they will move forward and accept their fate.
He added: “I think the most important thing is that people, game after game, see that this team is growing.
“Of course, financially it is a big difference for the club. That we know – and it will be different for the transfers to come in. That we know, that’s the reality and that’s why I said I don’t expect this rebuild to be done in four weeks.
“It’s hard for my team because they don’t deserve this after these two games. That’s the hard part of football.
“That’s the second time only in my career of over 30 years that something that unjust happens. We can only accept it, move forward to the league and Europa League.”
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