Ronny Deila attempted to end the phony war of words over John Collins’ comments by telling Derek McInnes that he can be as angry as he wants to be.
Collins comments that players in Champions League qualifiers are better than those in the SPFL Premiership may have been delivered in a roundabout manner but the accuracy of his words can’t be disputed.
Last season Astra, Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb provided Celtic with tougher tests in the Europa League than Aberdeen, Dundee United and Dundee delivered domestically.
Celtic’s recent decision to buy up domestic players clearly impacts on the quality of opponents but in the last half dozen years only Aberdeen’s wins over Groningen and Rijeka plus St Johnstone’s win over Rosenburg have defied the odds.
Hard luck stories are to be found in abundance but can’t be converted into European co-efficient points with Deila at ease defending the home truths delivered by his assistant.
“You have to be honest and tell it how it is to the fans and everyone else,” the Celtic boss stated. “That’s what newspapers are all about, to? give information to the people.
“If it is hard to say that is it harder to play in the Champions League and you get punished more there than you do in the Scottish league, then McInnes can be as angry as he wants for me. Because that is just stupid.
“It is a truth he said himself about the team from Croatia. You get tested more defensively in the Champions League and you get punished more for mistakes.
“That’s not to disrespect Scottish football, it’s just truth. We meet the best teams in Europe. I think Derek McInnes agrees – he said the team they played from Croatia tested them like no other team has done. So I think we all agree. This is creating a conflict that is not there.
“It is such a stupid thing to discuss. If the coaches in Scotland sat down and discussed this, we would not argue. It would be over after a minute but because we are making an issue of this, it is just a circus.”
That eejit McInnis has got perma rage, just like the rest of the orcs.. typically wee hot cross bun always raging about something…what a way to exist. Feckin cretin
Defending your man when he is right is one thing, but defending him when he is wrong is totally different. Collins is put of line and now Deila made it even worse. Both men are disrespectful of all other teams in Scotland and owe them all apologies. Say what you want, our last three biggest signings came from the same no good league where players are too dumb to challenge Celtic! Collins must be shut up and Ronny needs to man up.
Joe, I am not sure if that comment is meant to be genuine as there are words used there that do not relate to anything the manager or assitant manager have stated. You are also clearly stating an opinion so cannot state that anyone is ‘wrong’.
Assuming you are using the same logic as the media and have therefore given your own take by using terms like ‘dumb’ just to make a point, at least be ‘smart enough’ to specify the criteria used when talking about signings.
IMO, one of the last 3 biggest signings came from Man City! We took out an excellent central defender and had to plug that gap, I believe we have done that, already our record at the back is looking good. Again in my opinion, given an opportunity, I could also see Saidy Janko being a bigger signing than Çiftçi.
Joe, defending your man publicly when he is both right and wrong is the sign of good leadership. What is said privately on the other hand may be something different entirely.
That said Collins said what he thinks and I think it is safe to say that the European clubs provided Celtic with more challenges to our defensive abilities than the teams who come and park the bus in the SPFL.
Frankly McInnis is just a negative individual.He loves to complain and is typical ex ibrox loud mouth loser.Well said Ronny stick it to the angry wee bluenose nobody.
Telling them like it is, simples.
HH
Greetings my humble servants.
Fair play to Johnny C for exercising his right to free speech.
He has told the rest they are a lot of kite.
Ronny has said they should go fly themselves.
Haw haw haw haw haw.
McInnes made almost identical comments, and yet, remarkably, the succulent springbok crowd is silent …
Just another example of the manufactured controversy and subsequent shit-stirring that we have come to expect from the Scottish sports press/media.
Shock horror! Stop the presses! Man says Scottish football players probably aren’t as good as those from other European countries. WTF!!! Really? This stunning revelation comes hot on the heels of ‘The Moon isn’t really made of cheese’ and ‘Water is wet’! Have a look at the stats for Scottish players playing at the top level, Scottish club’s results in European competitions or the national team’s tournament qualification record. It’s neither a controversial or a debatable comment!
As for Collins’ comments regarding teams not being good enough to challenge Celtic, well if that’s not true could McInnes and those so incensed and frothing at the mouth with rage with what Collins said please explain the real reasons why no other team out-with Celtic or the now defunct club have won Scotland’s top league in over 30 years.