Brutally honest Jack Butland has raised eyebrows among the Rangers support after he conceded they needed a “different approach” against Lyon.
Some fans have taken that as a pot shot at Philippe Clement in the wake of the heavy 4-1 loss with the Ligue 1 side running riot at Ibrox. Malick Fofana and Alexandre Lacazette got doubles with Tom Lawrence’s strike proving to be nothing more than a consolation – with the French giants passing up a string of opportunities to make the damage worse on their Europa League hosts.
Speaking after the game to TNT Sports, Butland said: “They have got some serious individual quality. The disappointment for us is that we gave them too many easy opportunities for them to showcase that. It’s one of those you wish you could do it over again because I think we’d have a…you hate to say it but I think there’s a different approach that we needed or there wasn’t enough quite from us in those moments to cut out the attack, make a foul, stop them getting in their stride.
“The disappointment is the fact that we gave them some easy opportunities to showcase some serious individual talent. In that sense, it looks like on that is worse than it is but we probably caused our own issues.”
That has sparked a reaction from the punters on social media. One Rangers fan said on X: “If that isn’t undermining the manager, then I don’t know what is.”
Another chipped in: “Clearly he things that an alternative strategy is required from the manager” While another added: “That’s a subtle dig at the manager.”
A fan thought it signalled deeper dissent behind the scenes at Ibrox. A fan added: “Veiled attack on the tactics there. A red flag for manager vs dressing room fall out.”