Celtic centre-back Carl Starfelt is the latest Hoops star to come out and deliver a perfect response to the media’s constant Rangers question.
Throughout the weeks, manager Ange Postecoglou has had to ask whether he’s been focusing on how our rivals have been doing. Even yesterday the Celtic boss was having to come out and state that he doesn’t worry about things he can’t control.
Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley provided similar remarks when posed by the media with it last week [Scottish Sun]. Indeed, the message from the dressing room is clear – Rangers aren’t on our radar if we’re not playing them.
But Starfelt is the latest Hoops figure who’s had to deal with the tiresome narrative after yesterday’s 4-0 hammering of Ross County. And once again, he delivered a perfect response as he dismissed our rivals.
As quoted by the Scottish Sun, the Sweden international said: “No, we’re not thinking about Rangers. We know it’s seven games left for us, and that we have everything in our own hands. So, we’re just focusing game-by-game and we’re not looking at them.
“We’ve done it all year, not getting ahead of ourselves, just taking it game- by-game. That’s what we’ll keep doing.”
Media needs to calm down with its Rangers obsession; Celtic have made their focus clear
It’s clear what narrative the media are trying to push here. They’re absolutely itching to try and spin that Celtic are desperately watching their rivals and hoping they fail. After all, it makes for a cracking headline on their back pages.
Fair enough. But it’s getting a touch weird that they continue to ask it when Ange and his players have already given an answer on the situation. They don’t focus on Rangers because it’s not something they can control.
It’s absolutely the right way to think in a title race. Why should we get down because Rangers win matches? Especially when we’re on a 31-game unbeaten domestic run and 6 points clear at the top of the Premiership.
That doesn’t mean nobody is going to be watching Rangers at Dundee today. You’ll undoubtedly have some Hoops stars tuning in and seeing if our rivals slip-up. But it’s not something that’s taking over the thoughts of everyone at Lennoxtown just because they’re on TV.
If Rangers win today, Celtic will still have done their jobs this weekend. We will still be 3 points clear heading into the final 7 games. That’s why there’s no stress over how our rivals do, especially considering we have 2 more games against them to come before the season ends.
Hopefully, this week’s pushing of that particular narrative ends it for the rest of the season. It’s become clear the media won’t get the response they’re after from the Celtic boss or any of his players.
In other news, Ross County bizarrely complain about referee after Celtic rout
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