Andy Walker has said that Rangers boss Danny Rohl was ‘out of turn’ in his previous comments about Celtic.
Rohl caused controversy ahead of the Hoops’ visit to Ibrox last month, saying he was “surprised” that they didn’t “try to win” their game against Stuttgart.
The comments – which were, at best, purposefully ignorant – backfired when his side blew a 2-0 lead to drop two points to Martin O’Neill’s men.
A week later, after yet another draw, Celtic won again, this time after a penalty shootout.
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Andy Walker on Danny Rohl’s comments about Celtic
Discussing the last Glasgow Derby after the split on the Go Radio Football Show this week, Walker said: “I think, for years, I’ve always looked at a Celtic-Rangers game and thought, ‘Celtic have got so many potential match-winners’.
“And I just don’t have the same belief in the players that I’m seeing now, that are part of the starting XI.
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“I’m just wondering if the defence will be strong. I’m wondering if the full-backs will do their job. And of course, the last time that Rangers came to Parkhead, they won with an amazing performance.
“Admittedly, it was during that time when I don’t think any Celtic fan could work out what the manager, Wilfried Nancy, was trying to do, and neither did the players…
“So I think that [it’s] a really good point about Martin O’Neill going up against this same group of players and getting different results [to previous managers].
“I do think that Danny Rohl almost spoke out of turn, criticising the Celtic team or the goalkeeper.
“That plays in the hands, not just of the manager and his coaching staff, but players will be listening to that too.
“And I don’t know why you would choose – and that’s what he chose to do – I don’t know why you would choose to fire up the opposition players.”
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Celtic’s games against Rangers this season
In easily one of the dullest games you’ll see anywhere this season, Brendan Rodgers’ Celts drew 0-0 against Russell Martin’s Rangers in the first derby of the season at Ibrox.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha made his Celtic debut that day, which was a sign of things to come for the Hoops’ lack of creativity.
Walker mentions the game under Wilfried Nancy – Celtic actually played well in the first-half, but as had become a trend under the Frenchman, completely fell off in the second.
The three meetings between O’Neill and Rohl have all ended level after 90 minutes, with both cup games going Celtic’s way, once after extra time and once after penalties.
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