Chris Sutton has defended Celtic after journalist Ian Ladyman questioned why Brendan Rodgers returned to the Hoops.
In an article he wrote last week for the Daily Mail, Ladyman expressed his opinion that Rodgers is squandering his best years as a manager at Celtic. However, Sutton disagreed with Ladyman’s remarks.
Sutton, who played for Celtic from 2000 until 2006 and scored 63 goals for the Bhoys, has built a career for himself in the media after his playing career. Sutton has been actively engaged in commentating, writing articles, and regularly participating in podcasts for various outlets primarily focusing on Celtic.
Ladyman’s comments reflect a sentiment shared by some individuals who may not fully appreciate the honour of coaching the Bhoys and the positive impact it can have on a manager’s career.
Ladyman’s comments suggest his belief that Rodgers has regressed in his managerial career. However, it’s evident that Rodgers doesn’t share this perspective. Rodgers has previously expressed his affection for Celtic and described the Celtic manager’s role as his dream job.
Speaking on It’s All Kicking Off podcast Sutton said: “I think you’re an excellent journalist but you’ve got this badly wrong. It’s a really stupid argument here. Where do you want to go with this? Manchester City have won the Premier League for five out of the last six seasons.”
“In a week when Manchester United, who have spent over £400 million, lose to the minnows of Copenhagen, you chose not to mention that. Newcastle United have spent a fortune and are bottom of their Champions League group, but you just went all in on Celtic and Scottish football.
“Scottish football, in terms of attendances, is the best supported league in Europe. So you can have your opinion on the standard of football, but the biggest and best barometer is that Scottish people don’t care what you think because they go to the games week in, week out and they love their football.
“It’s not always about the money. It’s about the product and supporters’ bums on seats, supporting their local teams.”
Sutton rightly defended Celtic and questioned why Manchester United and Newcastle United receive more lenient treatment when they don’t perform well in the Champions League from the media, even though they have far greater budgets and resources at their disposal.
Sutton is correct in making a comparison between Celtic’s dominance in Scotland and Manchester City’s success in England, as highlighted in Ladyman’s article. Ladyman’s article discusses how the relative lack of competition in the Scottish league contributes to Celtic’s domestic success, while Manchester City has similarly enjoyed a period of dominance in the English Premier League, winning six league titles in the past ten years.
This comparison shows the importance of considering context when evaluating Celtic’s dominance in Scotland. It can be seen as unfair when analysing Celtic’s success without acknowledging Manchester City’s recent dominance in English football and the financial resources at their disposal. Understanding the different environments and resources available to these clubs is crucial for a fair assessment.
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