Derek McInnes says there’s a chance none of the goals Celtic scored on Sunday at Rugby Park was down to the quality of the Bhoys.
McInnes watched on helplessly at the weekend as Ange Postecoglou’s champions stuck five past his team with Giorgos Giakoumakis, Carl Starfelt, Moritz Jenz, Jota and Kyogo Furuhashi all on the scoresheet.
The Kilmarnock manager has given credit to Giakoumakis’ acrobatic effort but reckons there’s even a chance that one was preventable.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun [17/08 print edition, page 49], he said: “Three of the goals were in the six-yard box and other than maybe the overhead kick from Giakoumakis, none of the goals is down to the quality of Celtic.
“Yes, the probe and ask the questions, they keep the pressure on, their speed and intensity are admirable and difficult to contain, but when we analyse the five goals, maybe only that one – and even that was avoidable in the second phase.
“We can’t just brush it under the carpet, there’s stuff we need to analyse and get better at.”
Listen, I’m all for managers striving at improvement for their team, but to not give any credit to the opposition after a result like that and some of the goals scored is truly absurd.
Kilmarnock were ripped apart by Celtic’s quality for the opener, with Greg Taylor, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi combining expertly.
Jota’s strike was also outrageous. Yes, you can argue the goalkeeper should have done better, but there was still plenty of quality there too. Not many players are lashing shots like that just under the bar in the Scottish Premiership.
Moritz Jenz also had a lot to do to take his chance, with Giakoumakis’ effort speaking for itself. Ultimately, only Carl Starfelt’s first goal for the club is what you would call scrappy.
For me, it’s silly stuff from McInnes, though we’ve come to expect these kinds of odd comments from him down the years off the back of Celtic’s defeat. It’s little surprise he has such a dire record against us.
In other news, Harry Kewell shares how Aaron Mooy is looking in Celtic training with Australian media.
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