Rangers star addresses his future, Ibrox fan scenes and key incident against Celtic

Trusty was given a yellow card by referee Nick Walsh in first-half stoppage time when he caught Butland late. The official was not asked to review the incident and Celtic went on to win 3-1 after extra time. Rangers subsequently issued a statement on Monday evening saying that they remain “unsatisfied” following a meeting with the Scottish FA to discuss key incidents during the game.

Speaking at a charity event on Friday morning, Butland was invited to give his verdict on the incident.

“I think there's been a lot of opinions on it,” said Butland. “At the time, I thought it was late. Was there a massive amount of malice involved? Not necessarily, but was it mistimed. As a keeper when you're putting yourself in that position to go and be brave and go into intercept a ball, you'd like to think that you're protected, in a sense, from things like that. Seeing it afterwards, it was perhaps later than I thought in real time as well. So, a difficult one to accept.

“Obviously, conversations have been had since. There was a little bit of disappointment between all the staff that day from a refereeing side. That's the result that it came to. It's one you feel as a keeper that when you're going into those situations, yes, we have the benefit of being able to use our hands and perhaps be a little bit more physical at times, but when you're entitled to go for the ball at players' feet and things like that, yes, it can be a by-product of getting hit. That's just part and parcel of the game.

“But late ones and clumsy ones like that, you'd like to feel that there was something a bit different. But I think the club will make a statement. I think there'll be more discussions on it, just for a few more answers. But, yes, I think I share the views of probably the majority on it.”

Butland has say on Rangers ‘frustrations’

Rangers’ woes continued in Europe on Thursday night after losing 2-0 at home to Roma amidst vicious banners and protests against board members Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart. Butland stopped short of calling the atmosphere toxic but admitted a deep sense of frustration runs through Ibrox right now.

“There is a lot of that because the fans expect more than what perhaps we've delivered,” continued Butland. “It's certainly how I feel and I know the group feels as well, that we definitely need to set our standards and know where we should be higher than where we are in competitions. And the fans are entitled to their frustrations where they feel it's been directed at us as players, rightly so at times.

“But this is our group right now and this is what we need to move forward with. We've got a really big stretch of games now until January where I believe if we get things moving in the right direction and as a group we get better and learn some of the lessons that we've had recently, that we can make things a lot more positive than they feel right now.

“I think it's an opportunity for us to do with this group is to prove a lot of people wrong. What happens and what the fans vent their frustrations at is completely up to them and we'll never step in the way of that. But we need to move forward as a club and as a group and keep giving the fans wins to cheer for and hopefully make them and help them focus on a positive team on the pitch.

“We're all aware that the banners have been there and different things and we've also seen the amazing tifos that they've put up. There's a balance to it, I'm not going to get involved in it. The fans pay their hard-earned money to pay to come and watch us and what they expect to see on the pitch.

“It's never nice, we don't want to be in this situation where there is that. I want to be here and I want to see this team and the fans as a real unity together, being successful and having some incredible times together, which we have done and I've experienced. Perhaps we haven't as a group yet, but it's a possibility and we can achieve that

“It's a difficult time for the club and everyone's entitled to their frustrations and their way of venting it. As players, we need to focus on what we need to do and that's playing on the pitch.”

Butland was also quizzed on his long-term future at Rangers. The 32-year-old has another 18 months to run and said he remains committed to the cause and is desperate for victories, starting on Sunday against Dundee in the Premiership.

“I'd like to think people can see that in the way that I am, in the way that I approach my time here and the way that I apply myself on and off the pitch for this club as someone that's committed to this club,” added Butland. “Like I said, I still have another year after this. The focus is on winning games and no more than that on the weekend. For me, I joined here for a reason. I still have that belief and I still have that desire to do that. And with over a year-and-a-half left, there's really nothing to discuss other than the fact of getting my head down and trying to be as good as I can at this club.”