Celtic and Rangers both had disappointing results in Europe this week.
Celtic’s defeat to Kairat Almaty was hugely disappointing as Brendan Rodgers’ side failed to progress to the Champions League.
Rangers got embarrassed by Club Brugge as the Ibrox club went down to a 9-1 aggregate defeat in Belgium.
Whilst Celtic supporters direct their anger at the Parkhead board and their recruitment, Ally McCoist and TNT Sports commentator Rory Hamilton appeared to place the blame for Rangers’ failure last night elsewhere.
And the conversation is utterly bizarre.
Ally McCoist blames Celtic rivalry for Rangers’ embarrassment vs Club Brugge
There was a point during last night’s game when McCoist and Hamilton just stopped talking about the football.
And who could blame McCoist. 6-0 down, with 30 minutes left to play, it’s little wonder he stopped commentating.
However, both McCoist and Hamilton decided to embark on a conversation to try and explain Rangers’ humiliation and it will certainly be laughed at by many Celtic supporters.
Hamilton said during commentary on TNT Sports, “Does that come from the way the clubs are managed, the mentality, are we caught up in this goldfish bowl that whoever comes first, that’s all that matters?”
McCoist replied, “Yes, I think that’s a massive part of it. We’ve got the Old F-rm fixture, which, yes, is a fantastic fixture, one of the greatest games, the atmosphere, brilliant.
“But you just wonder if it stunts the progress of the game in this country.”
Hamilton: “Well, that’s where I really wonder as well, because it seems to be that whoever finishes second has to sack their manager and start all over again.
“Whoever finishes top, everything is seen as rosy here, and improvements don’t really seem to happen.”
Are McCoist and Hamilton blind to what Celtic fans are talking about?
Since Celtic’s elimination from the Champions League, the Parkhead support have pointed the finger inwards.
The blame for it was aimed squarely at the Celtic board. No one else. Not Rangers, not the SFA and certainly not the nature of the ‘Glasgow goldfish bowl’.
Was the goldfish bowl ever spoken about when Rangers reached the final of the Europa League or even when Celtic went within a minute of taking Bayern Munich to extra-time in last seasons Champions League?
Absolutely not. Celtic’s failures are down to the board. And, to an extent, Brendan Rodgers. To suggest that Rangers’ embarrassing result against Brugge is, in part, down to Celtic’s domestic success is the reason why that club will never move forward.
It’s always someone else’s fault.
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