Alloa manager Barry Ferguson has responded to Giorgos Giakoumakis’ comments about the game against Celtic on Saturday evening.
A number of Celtic players found themselves injured throughout the 90 minutes. There was a shocking challenge on Yosuke Ideguchi, while Callum McGregor has suffered from a suspected fractured cheekbone. Liel Abada also picked up a sore one.
Giakoumakis rightly called Alloa’s play ‘over the limit’ and ‘dangerous’ in media comments this morning, but Ferguson has defended his team.
Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show, the former Rangers man said: “I was disappointed to read that, to be honest. One thing about my players is they are 100% committed.
“They don’t go out to hurt fellow professionals. I asked them before the game to be aggressive and get in Celtic’s faces to make it uncomfortable for them.
“But in terms of asking to go out and hurt players, that’s not in my makeup. If I thought any of my players were up to no good, they wouldn’t be in my team.
“So I was a bit disappointed to read those comments from Giakoumakis.”
For me, actions speak louder than words and there is no doubt Alloa were leaving in too much on Celtic throughout the match on Saturday. Certainly beyond professional limits.
Some would argue that’s me looking through green-tinted specs but it’s undeniable many of the challenges were poor under the focus of any lens.
If that’s the translation of “be aggressive” in the dressing room, then Ferguson should rethink his instructions in future as his team have clearly taken it too far.
Likewise, the dreadful officiating from Don Robertson gave Alloa license to enact this agricultural football and put Celtic players at risk.
Ferguson was only ever going to defend his players, but Giakoumakis was bang on with his comments and Scottish football deserves better.
In other news, Report: Celtic’s hope for Callum McGregor to prevent the worst-case scenario.
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