Rangers goalkeeper dismisses penalty takers criticism amid Cyriel Dessers fan flak

JACK Butland has dismissed suggestions that Rangers would have won the Premier Sports Cup final if different players had taken the penalties amid mounting criticism of his team mate Cyriel Dessers for not stepping forward in the shootout.

Philippe Clement’s side lost to Brendan Rodgers’ team at Hampden on Sunday after left-back Ridvan Yilmaz had seen his attempt to net from 12 yards saved by opposition goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Many of the Ibrox club’s supporters felt that striker Dessers, who replaced Hamza Igamane during the first period of extra-time, should have put his hand up to take a penalty, not a defender and have savaged the £4.5m signing on social media.

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However, goalkeeper Butland, who converted his effort after Yilmaz had failed to find the net, argued that any Rangers player could have suffered the same misfortune as the substitute, who took over from Jefte in the second half, regardless of their position.  

“It could have been anyone that missed, it could have been anyone that scored,” he said. “Like I said, it's a cruel way to finish a game. You could have the ecstasy of winning it or it can be as cruel as it feels right now.”

(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire) Asked how the takers were decided, the Englishman said: “I've got enough things to think about in those scenarios than organising {who takes penalty kicks). I was not part of that process. I was focused on trying to do my job.”

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Butland revealed that Sunday was not the first time that he had had taken a penalty in a shoot out and stressed that he practices them during training at Auchenhowie regularly.

“I work on them and I always want to put myself forward and help the team,” he said. “I felt confident in doing so. Ultimately, it's something that you just don't put yourself forward if you don't practice them either.

“I took one in a shootout for Stoke against Leeds at Elland Road (in a Carabao Cup game in 2019) and I scored that one as well. I felt confident and I was happy I dispatched it. But that's no silver lining if you like.”