Rangers manager Philippe Clement says the referee's decision to send off Jefte in their Champions League qualifying defeat to Dynamo Kyiv ended "the dream of a whole dressing room".
Image source, SNSDefeat will hamper Philippe Clement's ability to rebuild his squad
Rangers manager Philippe Clement lamented the financial impact the Champions League qualifying defeat by Dynamo Kyiv will have on his ability to rebuild his squad.
"Financially, it's a big difference for the club," he told BBC Scotland. "It will make a difference for the transfers coming in also. I don't expect this rebuild to be done in a few weeks' time.
"It's hard for my team. They don't deserve this after these two games versus Dynamo Kyiv. One person with one decision made a really big change for us.
"It's the second time in my career of over 30 years that something unjust has happened. We can only accept it and move forward towards the league and the Europa League."
Image source, SNSPhilippe Clement spoke to referee Marco Guida at full-time
Manager Philippe Clement was unhappy with the second yellow card shown to Jefte that left Rangers playing with 10 men for most of the second half of their Champions League qualifying defeat by Dynamo Kyiv.
"I've seen the images back, it's clearly not a foul," the Belgian told BBC Scotland. "He jumps higher and that's everything that happens.
"He is not moving his arm towards the man or whatever. It's a crucial decision in this game. Everyone who watched this game saw we were the better team on the ball against a good Dynamo Kyiv team.
"We had a few chances to open up things and we knew they would get tired in the second half. Then we get the red card five minutes into the second half.
"It's a big moment in the game. But, even then, with 10, I'm really proud with my players and what they showed.
"Until the goal, we were the team getting the better moments. The decision was a game changer. With the decision of one person, you take away the dream of a whole dressing room. It's really hard."
Rangers were sent crashing out of the Champions League after Dynamo Kyiv scored twice within two minutes in the closing stages at Hampden following the dismissal of home wing-back Jefte.
Clinical strikes from Oleksandr Pikhalyonok and fellow substitute Nazar Voloshyn mean Rangers drop into the Europa League for the second season running.
The Ukrainian visitors head for the Champions League play-off round for the second time in three seasons and will face Salzburg after the Austrian Bundesliga runners-up overcame Twente 5-4 on aggregate after a thrilling 3-3 draw in Enschede.
But, with Rangers and Kyiv level after the first leg in Lublin, the tie in Glasgow swung on the decision to show Jefte a second yellow card five minutes after the break following an aerial challenge on Oleksandr Karavayev.
Image source, SNSIt was not a good night for Robin Propper (right) considering the centre-half's current side and his previous one, Twente, both exited the Champions League, but the summer arrival not only showed good defensive qualities but also a fine range of passing despite the 2-0 defeat by Dynamo Kyiv.
Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSOleksandr Pikhalonok scored Dynamo Kyiv's opening goal at Hampden
Rangers started their temporary stint at Hampden with a 2-1 Scottish Premiership victory against Motherwell on Saturday and will have been disappointed with the number of empty seats for their first home European tie at the national stadium.
There were some disgruntled noises among the home support when it was announced that Ross McCausland would start instead of Vaclav Cerny, who scored his first Rangers goal at the weekend, for the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Dynamo Kyiv.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement revealed that medical staff ruled the recent signing was not yet ready to start two games in a week, but with Jefte replacing Scott Wright, the new men on the wing proved to be Rangers' two most dangerous players in the first half.
McCausland can count himself unfortunate to be hauled off at the break, but Cerny showed his class and the Czech Republic international's introduction could have swung the game had Rangers not lost a body on the opposite wing following Jefte's second yellow card.
Captain Vitaly Buyalskyi had returned to the Kyiv midfield for Friday's 2-1 win over Veres Rivne and was one of only four players to retain their places after Oleksandr Shovkovskyi took the chance to rest most of his first-leg starters for their domestic season opener.
Even with their talisman back, Kyiv did not look like a side capable of that impressive 9-2 aggregate victory over Partizan Belgrade in the previous round.
Kyiv's head coach had also started Vladyslav Dubinchak ahead of Pikhalonok Vivcharenko and most of Rangers' first-half threat came from the area patrolled by the new left-back.
That was probably high in Clement's thinking as he introduced the more experienced Cerny at the break.
However, Jefte's dismissal five minutes after the break was more decisive and Rangers will be left thinking they missed a golden opportunity against fairly ordinary visitors to go a step closer to the riches of the Champions League.
To make matters worse for the hosts, left-back Ridvan Yilmaz had to be taken off on a stretcher late on.
Image source, SNSJefte is in from the start this evening for Rangers
Rangers make two changes ahead of their Champions League third qualifying round, second leg tie with Dynamo Kyiv.
One slight surprise sees Vaclav Cerny drop to the bench after starting and scoring against Motherwell at the weekend with Scott Wright also drops out of the starting XI.
Incoming are Jefte and Ross McCausland.
Robin Propper keeps his place at centre-back, however fellow defender Leon Balogun isn't in squad after manager Philippe Clement confirmed he "felt something" at the end of Saturday's game.
Image source, SNSRangers midfielder Jose Cifuentes has joined Aris Thessaloniki on a season-long loan, with the Greek club having the option to buy.
The Ecuador international moved to Cruzeiro of Brazil in February on a 12-month loan and made 12 appearances, but that deal has now been cut short.
Cifuentes was the final Rangers signing of Michael Beale, who was sacked as manager last October.
The 25-year-old, who is under contract at Ibrox until 2027, has played 20 games for Rangers but is not part of boss Philippe Clement's plans.
Image source, SNSCyriel Dessers was the first-leg hero for Rangers against Dynamo Kyiv
Rangers are not "anywhere near" being a Champions League team but can overcome Dynamo Kyiv to reach the play-off round, says former midfielder Stuart McCall.
Philippe Clement's side face the Ukrainians at Hampden tonight - live on BBC Scotland - after Cyriel Dessers' last-gasp strike rescued a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Poland last week.
"Rangers probably aren't ready for the Champions League yet but there's no reason why they can’t strive to get there," McCall told BBC Radio Scotland.
"What that would do with the financial package that comes along with it would help them immensely in the upcoming campaign.
"Clement is trying to build a squad there, there’s a lot of pieces of the jigsaw that still need to be filled. But when you’re a club the size of Rangers, regardless what competition you’re in, you’ve got to go and win.
"Rangers have put themselves in a decent position after the last-gasp goal from Dessers over there and while I don’t think they are anywhere near being a Champions League outfit that at this moment in time, they’ve got a chance to progress."
Image source, SNSWith Rangers' Champions League third-qualifying round tie finely poised at 1-1 with Dynamo Kyiv, we've ensured across the BBC you won't miss a moment of tonight's second-leg action.
Television coverage kicks-off at 19:30 BST on BBC Scotland and the BBC Sport website and app. Steven Thompson is presenting from Hampden with Alan Hutton and Allan McGregor providing punditry.
Cammy Bell joins Alasdair Lamont in commentary.
If you're on the go, fear not, there's full commentary on BBC Radio Scotland Extra with Rob MacLean, Billy Dodds and Derek Ferguson.
Kenny MacIntrye is in the hotseat too, of course.
And as always, we'll have full live text commentary right here on the BBC Sport Scotland website and app.
Image source, SNSTom Lawrence has admitted his time at Rangers has been a "mixed" experience due to injury struggles.
After his debut campaign at Ibrox was wiped out by an Achilles problem, the Wales forward made 32 appearances last season.
Reflecting on his Ibrox career so far, Lawrence, 30, told Rangers TV: "It started unbelievable. We qualified for the Champions League when I came in. I played the first 12 games I think it was. Then injury strikes, it was a disaster for me.
"But last season I came back after being out for 10 months. I got little niggles here and there, which was tough. But from January onwards I found good rhythm."
Lawrence has started all three of Rangers' competitive games this season and is pleased to have remained fully fit over summer in preparations for the new season.
"To get a pre-season under the belt is massive for me. My injury was not meant to be a 10-month injury, it was supposed to be shorter than that," he added.
"These are the sort of things you have to deal with in football. You've always got to look at the end goal and that's what I did.
"You feel like you have lost time there, so it is just about playing as many minutes as I can now - as well as I can."
Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny on why he's hugely motivated to make the Champions League group stage this season.
Image source, SNS"Three games into his Rangers career, he already seems a fan favourite."
John Walker, host of the Scots Abroad podcast, heaped praise on Connor Barron's seamless shift into the Rangers team since making the move from Aberdeen this summer.
Why has he taken to life at Ibrox - or Hampden - like a duck to water, though? Walker believes it's, in part, due to his commitment to the cause.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Walker said, "Rangers fans are like any other set of football fans - except their expectation to win things all the time - they want to see players run, tackle and give it their all, and Barron does that.
"That's all people want, and it does seem like that's actually been missing for a long time, so he's already seeming like he's a bit of a fan favourite three games into his career."
As well as getting stuck in, Walker believes Barron has the skill to shine on the biggest of stages.
"He's at a level having played Scotland under-21s with guys like Lewis Fiorini," Walker added.
"He was a no-brainer of a signing. He looked like somebody who could make that step up with his technical ability in addition to his hunger and desire."
You can listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast here
Image source, SNS"They'll be hanging on to the hope he can be their 35 goal contribution man."
No prizes for guessing who Rory Loy is referring to here.
Vaclav Cerny has quickly become a fan favourite at Rangers, and Loy can understand why.
The Czech Republic international had those at Hampden on Saturday on their feet with his fine first goal for Rangers, and Loy is adamant it will be the first of many.
"Rangers have missed a player in that position for years who can make an impact," the former Ibrox striker said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"You look at the impactful signings Celtic have made, even when they're picking these guys - Jota, Abada, Kuhn - from obscurity, Rangers aren't so good at that.
"So every time there is a glimmer of hope that somebody can come in and have that impact, they kind of cling on to it.
"There's been so many disappointing signings at Ibrox for a number of years now that I think given what they've seen from Cerny, they'll be hanging on to the hope that he can be their 35 goal contribution man like Matt O'Riley."
You can listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast here
Jamie Currie
Fan writer
It was important to build on the draw against Dynamo Kyiv on Saturday and we did that by beating Motherwell 2-1 at Hampden.
It was the typical game of two halves. In the first, Rangers were very good, and Cerny was at the heart of it... Motherwell struggled to deal with his pace and movement.
I also felt - despite his own goal – Robin Propper had an okay debut. However, he needs a better defensive partner in the future as John Souttar will not do, especially as a starter. For Motherwell's goal, James Tavernier doesn't stop the cross and Souttar does that Souttar thing... he gets caught under the ball.
At half-time, I was feeling positive, Rangers had played good stuff. Scored two good goals, Connor Barron had control of the game and there was a plan in terms of how we wanted to play.
However, the second half was a bit of a non-event. The quality and intensity of the play dropped as soon as Cerny left the field, and we really struggled to get going again.
But a win is a win at the end of the day.
It's simple for us going forward. We must improve the squad. We can say it until we are blue in the face but that's the bottom line.
Kyiv on Tuesday may be massive in terms of getting the funds to strengthen the side and we will see what comes of that, but I am much more confident about qualifying now than I was last Tuesday at this time.
Ianis Hagi, 25, wants to stay and fight for his place at Rangers after appearing to be on his way out of Ibrox. (Sun), external
Hagi's wages would go up if he plays another competitive first-team game for Rangers. (Record), external
Rangers have not been back in touch with Bayer Leverkusen regarding Gustavo Puerta, 21, since previously expressing interest in the midfielder. (Football Scotland), external
Image source, SNSOleksandr Shovkovskyi oversees his team training at Hampden Park
Oleksandr Shovkovskyi chose to focus on Ukraine’s positive Hampden Park experiences ahead of Dynamo Kyiv’s Champions League qualifier against Rangers.
The visiting head coach played for Ukraine when they lost 3-1 to Scotland in Glasgow in October 2007 and was on the coaching staff when they were beaten 3-0 in the Nations League in 2022.
Instead, he preferred to recall the time when Ukraine beat Sweden in the delayed 2020 European Championship round of 16 and watching his country beat Scotland 3-1 in the 2022 World Cup play-off semi-final.
"Glasgow is a very special place for me," said the former goalkeeper.
"Apart from the fact I played here, I was part of the national team which played Sweden in the previous Euro play-off and they won 2-1 in extra time, so a lot of positive emotions.
"Ukraine played Scotland at Hampden for the play-offs for the World Cup in Qatar and they won decisively too.
"I can remember the positive emotions from the pitch and a full house at Hampden and for the Ukraine players who will, for obvious reasons, know we can’t play in front of full stadia in Ukraine, that’s why this energy and positive emotions from a full Hampden Park will make me smile in a good way."
Rangers manager Philippe Clement talks to BBC Scotland before the second leg of his side's Champions League qualifying clash against Dynamo Kyiv.
Image source, SNSPhilippe Clement believes his Rangers side can achieve their goals faster should they qualify for this season's Champions League.
Rangers host Dynamo Kyiv at Hampden on Tuesday in the second leg of their third qualifying round tie after last week's 1-1 draw in Poland, with either FC Twente or RB Leipzig awaiting the winners in a play-off.
Europe's premier club competition brings riches that would expand Clement's transfer budget, but the Belgian says Rangers cannot afford to overspend, referencing the club's financial administration in 2012.
Still, he has spoken at length about the rebuild he is overseeing at Rangers and says "the story can go faster" with Champions League football.
"I think it (qualification) can make things happen faster," he said.
"Of course if you can go to the Champions League it will give you another budget, although it is only in the last hours of the transfer market at the moment. But it will be an important thing, for the future windows at the club.
"As a player, as a manager, it is about competing with the best. That is why I always like to be in the Champions League, it is the nicest place to be.
"It is also the most challenging place for players also because they can compete against the best and the world spotlight is on them. So that is the main thing.
"As a club you need to look at both. You need to look at the exposure and the tradition but the finance is really important in football and I think this club knows this really well after what happened 12 years ago.
"The club is really conscious. I know that and together we want to create a really good story, a strong story for the future but it is not a story you can write in three or four weeks, so we are working on that.
"The Champions League can make the story go faster."
