STEVEN GERRARD has hit out at the SPFL for not doing more to protect their clubs and their players when it comes to match turnover after a European night.
Both Celtic and the Ibrox club got positive results in the Europa League on Thursday night but the Scottish Champions were up in Aberdeen on Saturday night for an early kick off on the Sunday morning.
The Gers boss believes both clubs should be helped so they can best fight on both fronts and not have to deal with such early kick-offs further afield less than 72 hours out from a Euro tie.
Speaking to SunSport the Scouser said:
“I understand TV want to buy certain games. That’s where the governing body have got to help European teams and give you the kick-off that helps the players be better recovered.
“Surely the players’ safety is better. Surely the outcome of Scottish football is very important.
“You have got to give the players time to recover and be in the best shape to go and entertain the people who are actually watching on TV.
“After Europe, you would prefer the later kick-off and would prefer being at home, especially if you’ve been travelling away like we have.
“The worse one is being away then having to go away again and having a very early kick-off.
“That’s hard to prepare for, not just physically but mentally as well.
“We get no support from that point of view but it’s life and we get on with it.”
TV will always dictate what happens whether the clubs like it or not. They pay a premium to pick and choose when they get game time within reason. It’s the nature of the beast and Neil Lennon knows that more than most being a Celtic player and a two time manager of the Parkhead side.
After slipping up against Livingston after the Cluj game – Celtic will be desperate not to have any sort of European hangover.
