Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes slams ‘damning’ media treatment of Celtic in the Champions League

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Celtic have found an unlikely ally as Derek McInnes hit back at the club’s Champions League critics this week.

Celtic beat RB Leipzig in emphatic style on Tuesday night leaving the Parkhead club so close to being guaranteed a play-off place this season.

After the defeat to Borussia Dortmund wiped away all the positivity of Celtic’s hammering of Slovan Bratislava, the Hoops were severely criticised in the Scottish media and beyond and it seems to have incensed Kilmarnock boss, Derek McInnes.

Derek McInnes says Celtic’s win vs RB Leipzig proved many Champions League critics wrong

Preparing to face Celtic in today’s 3pm kick-off at Kilmarnock, McInnes seemed raging as he hit back over the criticism the Hoops received after the Dortmund defeat.

McInnes told the Daily Record, “On Tuesday night, they looked like a mature team at that level. Everyone was so damning in the fallout from their defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

“They were damning on Celtic, Brendan and Scottish football. People who should probably know better said Celtic couldn’t compete with the top Bundesliga teams. But they got a brilliant result against Leipzig, so it can be done.

“Their performance was very good and a really good reference for Brendan and his team. It was a top-level performance and expectations have been raised there because investment was made in the team for Europe.

“It was a good night for them, so they’ll come here in good form on Sunday. Brendan’s a top operator and has shown that for years now. He’ll have taken a lot of pleasure from that result – but he’ll also recognise that it will be different here at Rugby Park. He’ll know what to expect.”

Celtic team news ahead of tricky Kilmarnock trip

With no fresh injury concerns from the win over Leipzig, Rodgers appears to have a full squad quota to choose from for today’s trip to Kilmarnock.

Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers missed Celtic’s training ahead of the Rugby Park clash but Brendan Rodgers allayed any fears and confirmed that their absences were ‘precautionary’ after their Champions League exertions against Leipzig.

With Kilmarnock sitting in eighth place in the Scottish Premiership table, a win today will take them close to a top-six place so Celtic will have a tough game ahead of them.

With Aberdeen beating Dundee 4-1 at Pittodrie last night, Brendan Rodgers knows his team cannot afford to drop any points if they want to regain top spot in the league table this afternoon.