'I felt very disrespected' - Derek Cornelius breaks silence on Danny Rohl fallout and shock Ibrox freeze-out

Canada World Cup star opens up on the moment Rangers boss called him into his office and ended his season - with no explanation he felt was good enough

Derek Cornelius has launched a stinging attack on Rangers head coach Danny Rohl, accusing the German of freezing him out without reason and leaving him to rot in the stands during the most important year of his career.

The Marseille defender, who was on loan at Ibrox, did not play a single minute for the club after November, banished from match squads after a brief fallout with Rohl following his return from a hamstring injury. Now, with the Canada international heading to a home World Cup next month, Cornelius has finally had his say.

And he has not held back.

Speaking in an interview in his homeland, the 28-year-old centre-back described the moment Rohl called him into his office - just two training sessions after returning from an extended hamstring lay-off - and told him his season was effectively over.

“I was out for an extended period of time, but excited to come back and was looking forward to it,” he said. “There were no conversations between me and the manager during that time, which was fine. I think I came back into team training maybe twice or so, and then after the second training, I was called into the manager’s office. He basically just told me that from now until the end of the season, you’re not going to be part of the squad.

“I just felt that was really unfair. I felt like I deserved the opportunity to work my way back into the team.”

Cornelius says he made every effort to make Rohl change his mind, pleading his case and pointing to what he could still offer the squad, even in a limited role.

“I said to them, ‘I can help this team’ in some way - whether that’s starting, whether it’s five minutes to hold on to a lead, or whether that’s having a conversation with a younger player saying, ‘Don’t worry about the pressure, just focus on your job,’” Cornelius said. “Whatever. But I wasn’t given a solid reason as to why I was not considered.

“Maybe if the manager saw the way I’ve been training for the last two, three weeks, he could have changed his mind. But it wasn’t the case and it’s disappointing.”

There was also a pointed remark about what Cornelius believes Rangers threw away this season. Despite the personal anguish, he remains convinced the talent was there at Ibrox to challenge for silverware.

“I honestly feel like we had enough talent and enough ability to go on and win a title,” he said. A comment that will sting in the aftermath of another season without Premiership glory at Ibrox.

Now Cornelius turns his attention to something far bigger. Canada host this summer’s World Cup, and the defender is relishing the weight of expectation that comes with it.

“The World Cup at home means a different kind of pressure,” he said. “If we don’t get any points in the group stage it’s a big disappointment. I personally like those expectations being put on the team, because we’re finally getting recognised as a good team, a solid team and we need to perform now.”