Rangers Champions League do-or-die has Servette boss in a panic as bizarre sub choice enrages his own player

Servette boss Rene Weiler was criticised by his own player after making bizarre substitutions with one eye on the Champions League showdown with Rangers.

Michael Beale take his side to Switzerland after a narrow 2-1 victory at Ibrox, with the sold-out Stade de Geneve aiming to put Rangers under pressure to reach the playoff round. Next up for the winners of the third qualifying round tier will most likely be PSV Eindhoven. But while Rangers eventually cantered to a 4-0 win over Livingston, Servette were could only manage a 1-1 draw at home against St Gallen. But fans of the Swiss outfit were left bemused after Weiler took off Dereck Kutesa in the first half before making a substitute in the form of Hussayn Touati who was only afforded 15 minutes on the pitch.

Kutesa was visibly angry at being hauled off in the first half and later told Swiss TV: "I have absolutely no idea why I was taken off in the first half." However, Weiler – who started eight players who played at Ibrox last week – insisted he had his reasons.

He explained: "We were tired against St Gallen. It wasn't easy to play just three days after Glasgow. I deliberately didn't rotate because some teams change it too much. I took off Kutesa because he was on a booking and I didn't want to finish the match with 10 men yet again. I thought St Gallen players were trying to provoke him in to getting another yellow card.

"With Touati, I took him off after I put him on because he wasn't following instructions defensively. It's not something I do often because I don't want to annoy players, but I wanted a result. We didn't lose at least, but we know only a win against Rangers will be good enough."