Philippe Clement speaks to Sky Sports right after Rangers postponement v Dundee at Dens Park
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has hit out at the “really strange” decision to postpone the game with Dundee at Dens Park.
After a couple of pitch inspections on Sunday (17 March), the decision was taken by the match officials to call off the match.
Heavy rain overnight left the pitch waterlogged in places and the surface was deemed unplayable.
Clement finds it bizarre that the match – due to be broadcast live on Sky Sports – was the only one in Scotland to fall foul of the weather.
“I’m very very very disappointed. We didn’t know there was a problem – nobody contacted us,” Clement said on Sky Sports News [17 March, 11:15am].
“Our kitman was here early and told us there was a problem. So it’s a really strange thing for me. I think it’ll be the only game in all the games in Scotland that will be postponed.
“That’s a crazy situation. If you’re playing in the Premiership, it should be with the highest standards and best pitches.
“I think it’s a logical thing because television pays a lot of money to broadcast it, fans pay a lot of money to see games, and this is the only game postponed. It’s a really strange situation.”
Rangers trail Celtic heading into international break
Had Clement been told Rangers had the weekend off on the back of the Benfica loss, he probably would have taken it.
After a gruelling run of games, this had the potential to be a possible banana skin with the players no doubt deflated after the European exit.
However, the timing of the decision – and the surprise of it – is what has made him annoyed. The players were already at Dens Park when the game was officially called off.
Having done all their preparations and travelled to Dundee, it would have been much better had the game gone ahead as planned.
Instead, the Gers now trail Celtic in the Scottish Premiership with this game in hand hanging over them.
If the game in hand is not played before the Old Firm showdown, that will be a psychological advantage for Celtic.
Clement has every right to be upset as he had no idea the game was even at threat of being called off until pretty much the same time as everyone else.
Sometimes there is not much that can be done, but this is the fourth Dundee game that has been postponed now at Dens Park this season. That is quite simply not acceptable.
In other Rangers news, Gary Keown insists there is no way a Gers regular should be starting against Celtic next month.
For more Rangers news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.