Ralston Spot on With VAR Criticism

Saturday’s victory over Dundee United was yet again another masterclass from Ange Postecoglou’s side in displaying their never say die attitude.

After conceding late in the game when a cross from Dylan Levitt evaded everyone in the box to go straight into Joe Hart’s net, it looked as thought the Arabs had managed to nick a point.

However, Celtic rallied and once again fought back with Anthony Ralston flicking the ball on from a Matt O’Riley corner to find Kyogo in the box who headed the ball past Mark Birighitti to send the Celtic Park crowd crazy with joy.

This is becoming a trait of this side who showed huge resilience at times last season to fight back with the players almost having muscle memory of knowing what to do to get a late winner.

The mantra of ‘We Never Stop” can be hindered at times when VAR decisions take so long to carry out with the zap being taken out the game before awarding the visitors a penalty kick as well as a potential red card check which led to nothing.

Ange Postecoglou hit out at the huge pauses in play as he would rather the game is resumed as quick as possible instead of players having to hang about but Anthony Ralston believes that the players just need to try and deal with it.

“Look, VAR has been implemented and we all need to deal with it,” said Ralston speaking to the Scottish Sun. 

“We focus on us. We don’t let the outside noise affect us.

“The referees will make their decisions and that will be that. We just need to deal with it and, again, the boys did that.

“It was hard, a bit stop-start, especially the way we want to play, which is quick and it’s intense.

“But this is what we are going to have to deal with. You just need to stay focused at all times no matter what happens, whether it’s VAR or it’s a bad a decision or whether it’s the opposition slowing the game down.

“These are all factors in the game that, mentally, we have to control ourselves. We all do that, we are used to it now.”

It is hoped that there will be an improvement in the technology as the weeks roll on but so far it’s causing more issues.