Philippe Clement boils at Todd Cantwell treatment as Rangers midfielder out injured
According to Philippe Clement, Todd Cantwell’s care at St Johnstone “didn’t help” with the injury that has kept him out of action for a month.
At McDiarmid Park, the Rangers midfielder was subjected to a number of heavy challenges, and Clement wasn’t pleased with how the game turned out for the former Norwich player. Cantwell was substituted during the Perth match and had to watch Hearts lose 5-0 before finding out he would be out for four weeks.
Although manager Clement said he isn’t seeking for extra protection for his players from the officials, he was displeased with Cantwell’s injuries against the Saints. Furthermore, the longer-term issues that put the 26-year-old on the treatment table infuriated him even more.
In response to a question about whether the St Johnstone challenges contributed to the injury, Clement stated, “For sure, it will not have helped.” In that regard, Todd has evolved in a really good way. The past two weeks have seen a significant improvement in his attitude.
“Todd has always been a really skilled ball player, but occasionally he can be a touch too aggressive. We’ve had a conversation about that. He has gained knowledge and improved as soon as he began to play more straightforwardly.
“There were a few challenges in this game, so he could have definitely been better protected.” I can definitely recall one in the middle of the field when he was (flipped over), and in my opinion, those are usually yellow cards. But since I am a coach and not a referee, I will definitely not participate in those talks.
“I don’t think referees need to protect one player more than the other,” he continued. They should, in my opinion, be abiding by the game’s regulations and assisting us in producing quality football.
“Therefore, that facilitates fluidity in the game, lots of ball play, and football. They are the only ones who can break the rhythm and get us back to playing fluid football if there are multiple fouls.
Referees can be helpful in that regard, but I don’t think they should shield any particular player more than another since that would be incorrect and would induce players to approach the game incorrectly from the outset. Never will I ask for it.
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