Rangers manager explains why Dessers did not take a penalty in shootout loss to Celtic

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has explained why Cyriel Dessers did not take part in the penalty shootout as his team lost to Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park on Sunday.

The veteran striker was not named in the starting line-up for the sixth consecutive game as Hamza Igamane was preferred over him.

The Moroccan striker is in a rich vein of form, having scored five goals in his last five starts before yesterday's game and deservedly got the nod over Dessers.

The Nigerian forward came on for Igamane during extra-time. His notable contribution in the game was the yellow card he received just a minute after coming on the pitch.

With the match tied at 3-3, the winner had to be decided via spot kicks. 

James Tavernier, Danilo, Ianis Hagi, Rıdvan Yılmaz and Jack Butland were the designated penalty takers for Rangers.

Everyone but Yilmaz converted their spot kicks while Celtic scored all of theirs to lift the trophy at the expense of the Light Blues.

Speaking after the game, Clement revealed why Dessers was not involved in the penalty shootout.

In quotes relayed by Rangers News, he said: "(Cyriel Dessers) was on the list further. 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 on who was good.

"We had more than five players to take a good penalty. Ridvan (Yilmaz) is normally also really good."

Rangers won the League Cup last season and Dessers played a role in their triumph, registering one goal and an assist in the second round of the competition. 

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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