CHRIS SUTTON believes that Ange Postecoglou and the Celtic squad should feel annoyed with the treatment they’re receiving from the Scottish press after their European exit.
Celtic have been competing in every Champions League tie, and have been unlucky on many occasions. The other side in Glasgow has failed to lay a glove on their opponents and have embarrassed themselves and Scottish football.
Sutton writes that the treatment of Celtic by some pundits has been arrogant, grouping the two Scottish teams in the Champions League and treating them as one. Expressing his discontent, the former Celtic striker wrote; [Daily Record]
“That’s the problem. I don’t see much analysis. People are generalising Scottish football and just lumping results all into one bracket. Wrong. Coming out with phrases like disaster and humiliating for all. It is lazy and it is stupid. I’m hearing pundits south of the border making statements about the Scottish game being fourth tier and it’s just plain ignorance. If that wasn’t bad enough, my old pal Ally McCost agreed with one of them this week. Are you joking, Ally?
“Postecoglou is trying to implement a style and adopt a positive approach that can make Celtic better in Europe now and the future. He said they were going to try and play their way and they have done so.
“Fair enough, they are out, but you cannot seriously tell me they have been outclassed, or out of their depth, or been cannon fodder? Could you look at any of the five performances that Postecoglou’s team have put up and called them a disaster? Or a nightmare?
“If you do, if you match them up and lazily stick them in the same basket with Rangers’ weak performance in Amsterdam, or lack of ambition at Anfield, or capitulation at home to Liverpool, or Motherwell losing to Sligo, Dundee United’s seven in Alkmaar, you either didn’t watch the games or you don’t have the first clue about football.”
Celtic put up a good fight in the competition and will feel unlucky that they’re not playing European football after Christmas. But, it comes as a learning experience for the players and manager, who will come back bigger and stronger next season.
Postecoglou will now focus on the domestic season, with the league as the priority. Winning the league again will see Celtic go straight into the group stages of the Champions League.
