Philippe Clement has blamed ring rust for comeback man Ianis Hagi’s red card against St Johnstone.The midfielder, who hadn’t featured in a Rangers match squad since August last year, was sent packing 35 minutes after he came off the bench in a 2-0 win at Ibrox. Providing an assist for Vaclav Cerny’s second goal of the night, the Romanian international then saw red when he lunged into a reckless challenge on striker Benjamin Kimpioka.
Clement admitted the officials got it right when they upgraded the initial yellow card on VAR’s recommendation, but he claimed Hagi’s tackle was clumsy rather than violent. ‘Ianis didn’t play for a long time,’ said the Rangers boss. ‘The red card is a clumsy challenge. It’s one from a player who is not yet fit at the moment.This is the only way to get him fit and ready. It’s not a violent one or with high intensity – it’s more of a clumsy one and an unlucky one.
‘It’s a clear red card when I saw it afterwards. I can’t be disappointed in him, because he’s just in the building, in that way, training with us.
‘One of my main principles is that I don’t want that kind of challenge. I don’t want people (to) raise their feet, I don’t want that they block these challenges or use their body in that way, because then you risk these moments.
