“Best Feelings” Fran Alonso and the Ghirls reflect on that Beautiful Sunday

Fran Alonso was a proud man following Celtis’s Sunday ‘skelping of theRangers, in a hard-fought Scottish Cup Derby that produced not only a win for Celtic but also a performance of sheer desire and a first-class attitude throughout.

🎥 Fran Alonso reacting to the #Ghirls' Scottish Women's Cup 𝙒𝙄𝙉 over Rangers!

🍀 2⃣-1⃣ 🔵#GlasgowDerby | #COYGIG 🍀 | @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/sNL2JADpCJ

— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) February 13, 2022

The Celtic Head Coach took to social media after the match to praise everyone involved but as you’d expect he didn’t take any of the praise himself when really he could have.

‘So proud of everyone at CelticFCWomen. Fantastic win vs (the)Rangers despite the many challenges! Best feeling!!

We fall but united we stand up straight away, what a TEAM! For you Chloe Logan.

Into the Quarter final of the Scottish Cup!! Mon the HOOPS!!! Hail hail’

So proud of everyone at @CelticFCWomen!!💚
Fantastic win vs Rangers despite the many challenges!!
Best feeling!!
We fall but united we stand up straight away, what a TEAM!!! 🍀🍀
For you @chloetlogan 💪
Into the Quarter final of the Scottish Cup!!

Mon the HOOPS!!! Hail hail pic.twitter.com/azu8KUSl8J

— Fran Alonso (@FranAlonsoFA) February 13, 2022

Celtic battled well in the first half and took the lead through the sheer determination of Clarissa Larisey, deputising for the significant pre-match omission of top scorer Charlie Wellings through injury. However, the Hoops were pegged back just prior to half time as theRangers scored through Demi Vance.

At that stage it was anyone’s game. Celtic had defended stoutly and the back three of Cheyenne Shorts, Chloe Craig and the player of the match Caitlin Hayes were simply immense, meanwhile the midfield battle was fairly even with theRangers perhaps just edging it, and although our rivals probably created more opportunities they were limited when it came to clear cut chances.

In such circumstances, indeed as theRangers management did, most coaches would have played out the early stages of the second half with the same team and the odd tactical tweak. Fran Alonso however showed incredible bravery as he substituted both Jodie Bartle and Tyler Toland and surrendered physicality in an attempt to gain a creative edge in midfield, and more mobility and threat down Celtic’s right flank.

On came Chinese international Mengyu Shen and new signing Annie Timoney, and with those changes Celtic stepped up a gear.

Timoney was immediately looking an attacking threat as well as being sound defensively and Shen spent the second half covering every inch of ground, creating chances, shooting from distance and covering her defensive shift admirably. Her introduction allowed Celtic to gain real traction in the second half and although theRangers were still a force to be reckoned with as they matched Celtic for graft, the guile and creativity that arrived in the shape of Alonso’s substitutes edged the game for Celtic.

Chloe Craig ultimately got the winning goal with a fine back post header from the sort of lofted diagonal pass theRangers had looked weak to all afternoon. It was a just reward for Craig’s bravery in starting this game after being the victim of that horrendous tackle at the hands of Glasgow City’s Niamh Farrelly just three days prior. And as well as the winning goal, Craig was part of a defensive performance of Celtic’s back three that surpassed anything they’d supplied all season.

However as brave as every Celtic player was in this Derby win, it was the boldness exhibited by Fran Alonso and his telling substitutions that ultimately won this game for Celtic.

And although the manager was keen to pass out deserved praise to all his players for a victory, he was never going to talk up his own influence on the outcome of the game, but with his changes a 50/50 Scottish Cup tie swung in the favour of Celtic when it easily could have backfired, and now Celtic are on course for a domestic cup double, and much of the reasons they are is down to the man who preferred to pass on the praise to his players instead of recognising his own part in that success.

Niall J