Rangers coach Neil Banfield, part of Michael Beale’s first-team staff, has said he was left irked by comments from Ange Postecoglou in the wake of the Scottish League Cup final and that the Ibrox club are now “coming” for Celtic.
Celtic face the Ibrox side at Hampden next Sunday, having already taken care of them at the national stadium this season with a 2-1 victory, lifting silverware at their expense.
Banfield has praised the work Ange has done with the Bhoys since arriving but claims something said by the Celtic boss has left a taste in his mouth, to the extent it is a motivating factor ahead of the upcoming derby.
As quoted by The Scottish Mail on Sunday [23/04 print edition, back page], Banfield stated: “He said one or two things that I have remembered and I will remember. For what he has achieved at Celtic, we say well done. The use of the market has been excellent and I like the way they play.
“But he said one or two things that make you want to say: “Okay, right, we’re coming”. And that’s okay, that is what it’s all about. They’ll want to come at us. That’s what top-level managers are all about. That’s the world we live in.
“There’s respect there, no doubt. He is a good football guy and he works for Celtic but he has said things that leave a little taste in the mouth. I’ll keep that to myself but he made a quote after the final and it landed on me. And you think: “Yeah, okay I’ll take that”. Next time we’ll turn that round.”
One can only guess what has annoyed Banfield. I can’t remember Postecoglou saying anything controversial in the wake of that match at all.
Yet again, it seems there is a lot of talking from Ibrox without much substance. Time and again we’ve heard this kind of bravado from their squad and coaching staff, only for Celtic to come out on top.
Presumably, Rangers were also ‘coming for Celtic’ in the last derby at Celtic Park, only to fall short and not lay a glove on the Bhoys despite the home team playing far below their capabilities.
It is often folly for anyone at Celtic or Rangers to do their talking ahead of a big derby, so quite why Banfield has picked this moment to have a pop I don’t know. Matters are settled on the pitch and the pitch only.
In other news, The latest from Ange Postecoglou on Jota, Hatate and Abada ahead of Celtic vs Rangers.
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