While Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was enduring an absolute nightmare in Germany this weekend, the club he left behind was busy putting on a defensive masterclass against Rangers at Ibrox.
The former Celtic loanee, whose brief spell at Parkhead earlier this season was largely forgettable before his swift January exit, made headlines for all the wrong reasons after seeing a straight red card for FC Koln against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
In stark contrast to his Bundesliga struggles, Martin O’Neill’s current defensive unit was busy writing itself into Glasgow derby history.
Travelling to Ibrox always brings unrelenting pressure, with questions inevitably asked about whether the Hoops backline can handle the intense atmosphere.
O’Neill’s side delivered an emphatic response. They erected a green-and-white wall that completely frustrated their fierce rivals from the first whistle to the last, securing a heroic result, as Celtic beat Rangers on penalties in the Scottish Cup.
In contrast, it was night and day compared to the weekend Simpson-Pusey endured.
Should Celtic regret not giving Jahmai Simpson-Pusey a chance?
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey sent off as FC Koln lose to Borussia Dortmund
The drastic difference between Simpson-Pusey’s moment of madness and Celtic’s impenetrable Ibrox fortress highlights just how quickly fortunes can diverge in football.
While Simpson-Pusey is left picking up the pieces of a disastrous weekend, O’Neill’s men are celebrating a monumental performance built on sheer discipline, concentration, and desire.
The Manchester City player, who only played 64 minutes for Celtic, lunged into a clumsy, late challenge on Maximilian Beier just before the break, catching the Dortmund star directly on the Achilles tendon with his studs exposed.
Initially, he was shown a yellow card, before it was upgraded to a red, with Koln, who were losing 1-0 at the time, going on to lose the game 2-1.
Benjamin Arthur is proof that Simpson-Pusey was unfairly treated
Simpson-Pusey played in the Champions League for Manchester City last season, and he was also the Premier League 2 Player of the Year.
His standing was well above Benjamin Arthur’s, who only made his Brentford debut this season, but he has made a positive start to life in Glasgow after coming in for Simpson-Pusey in January.
Just like loan signing Alex Valle last season, sometimes, Celtic don’t know how to treat these young players because Simpson-Pusey should have earned many more minutes than he did.
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