Dropped Rangers star in 'end of the world' admission as he makes pressure claim after high-profile blunders

Jack Butland has admitted to feeling the weight of playing for Rangers after making several high-profile blunders that has cost him his place in the starting XI and led to question marks surrounding his long-term future at the club.

In an interview carried out ahead of the Englishman being dropped by interim manager Barry Ferguson for the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao, the experienced former Manchester United and Crystal Palace goalkeeper revealed how it feels like “the end of the world” when the Ibrox side lose a game.

As a result, Butland’s time with family and friends has been impacted. The ex-England international was dropped in favour of Liam Kelly on Thursday night despite emerging as the Light Blues’ hero in the previous round against Fenerbahce in which he made two vital penalty saves during a dramatic last-16 shoot-out.

Speaking to his old team mate Ben Foster on the 'Fozcast' podcast, Butland said: “Down in England, you can be at teams where things will go against you. You can have a bad day and you can lose but you can go back to normality after it. Here, it's the end of the world, and you feel it. When you've been up here for long enough, and you understand what the club's about, and you understand what the demands are and the expectations are, you feel it. You don't need the fans to remind you - you know.

“You lose a game and you just want to get home, back indoors, and it's like it is the end of the world. Plans are cancelled, rounds of golf are cancelled that were booked in. It's not the right time because it means that much to the fans.

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“It does control what you do and it does control how things are. Your family live it too and your kids live it in the school playground. Your wife lives it on Instagram. It's the only thing that matters when it comes to Rangers.”

While Ibrox can be a pressured environment to perform in, Butland described Ibrox as a "special" place to play, while also referring to the need for the team to give their supporters something to cheer about after an appalling domestic campaign.

A goalless draw with 10 men against the La Liga outfit and Butland’s understudy Liam Kelly stepping up to the plate as he watched on from the subs bench, will have pleased the 32-year-old, who was one of the first to congratulate his glove rival at full-time.

And in a classy touch, Kelly spoke of reliving Butland's Fenerbahce moment after producing an outstanding penalty save after 79 minutes. Asked what was said during their post-match exchange, Kelly said: “Just kind of laughing as if to say, my God, what a night. I said to him, his Fenerbahce was me tonight. You get that amazing moment as a goalkeeper and he was so pleased for me. He's such a genuine guy as well. Big thanks to him, big thanks to all the goalkeeping group.

“Listen, me and Jack have got a great relationship. It's not an easy position to get into when you've got the goalie who was the best in the league by an absolute mile last year. If something difficult is happening, then something good is always around the corner. Big Jack is an incredible goalie, he's got absolutely everything in his game."

Kelly added: “We all go through difficult moments. I stepped in, but he's an amazing goalie. He's a big help to me and I learn so much from him. I'm well aware of the quality. He's an incredible goalie. He's got every blinking attribute you'd love as a goalie. Amazing goalie, amazing guy.”

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