Barry Ferguson has revealed Jack Butland “wasn’t happy” as he opted to drop the goalkeeper.
The Rangers No1 is on the bench for the match against Athletic Bilbao with Liam Kelly starting in goal.
There had been calls for Butland to be benched after a series of errors in recent weeks.
However, Ferguson has insisted his decision was not a “knee-jerk reaction” after a blunder against Hibernian as he stated he still has faith in Butland.
Ferguson said: “It wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction, in terms of making my decision on Saturday night, I thought long and hard about.
“I spoke with Jack, I explained my decisions behind it, he wasn’t happy, if I’m being honest with you, but I don’t mind that.
“He understood I had to make a decision. I’ve went with Liam. Since I have come in Liam has trained really well.
“People need to remember, I still believe in Jack, Jack is still a top goalkeeper. I get on really well with him but I have to make decisions.”
“He is a big character in he dressing room and he has suffered some difficult moments and it will affect him, he is only human.
“I just felt it was right to bring him out. It was a tough one bringing him into my office and explaining the reasons why.
“Sometimes you have got to make tough calls and I thought it was the right decision tonight.”
RANGERS XI: Kelly, Tavernier, Yilmaz, Propper, Dessers, Cerny, Sterling, Balogun, Hagi, Raskin, Rice.
SUBS: Butland, Mcguire, Barron, Bajrami, Nsiala, Jefte, Igamane, McCauslland, Curtis, McCallion, Danilo.
