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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Stewart Wilson

Clement relieved Rangers CEO can handle refereeing issues, lets him focus on team

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has urged his side to shift their focus from thinking about the what if's from last weekend's Scottish League Cup final.

"We cannot look back anymore, it's finished," he told BBC Sportsound. "It's done, it's been open from Willie Collum on his side that it was unacceptable. It's clear for everyone in the world of football. 

"But we have a new game now so our minds need to be clear and it's about this game now. If we keep on thinking about last week then we will not perform. That was the message towards the team and that's what I want to see today on the pitch."

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell was live in the radio studio while Clement remained on the line, and the Rangers boss was asked if he had a message for the 49-year-old executive. 

"It's not my job to do that," claimed the Belgian. "We have other people in the club finally, we've been waiting long for that. That's Patrick [Stewart]'s job to do as the CEO of the club. I need to focus on my team and to make the players better. So, I'm totally focused on that.

(Image: PA) "But I appreciate the honesty of Willie Collum this week, that's also really important.

"Of course nobody wants this, not the referee's and I think also not the people responsible at the SFA to have moments like that in important football games, or in any football game, because it's against everything everyone wants."


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Danilo and Dujon Sterling come into the Rangers starting XI last they welcome Dundee to Ibrox this afternoon, with Nedim Bajrami and Leon Balogun dropping to the bench. 

Clement explained why and said: "Dujon Sterling is at centre-back because we're going to lose John Souttar for several weeks. With Leon Balogun and Robin Propper, they can't play 90 minutes every three days.

"Danilo comes back into the team, that's more rotation. Nedim Bajrami played a really good game against Celtic, Danilo came in well and is getting fitter and fitter."

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