Celtic players get painful reminder – Success never a “given” it has to be worked for

Rangers 3 Celtic 0…Well, I think we all knew that a bad game was coming, and fortunately it came in a game that didn’t matter. Let’s now get it out of the way, and concentrate on what is left of the season. The only game that really matters is the Scottish Cup final, and we have three practice games to get it right to win our treble.

That said, there were several really disturbing aspects of today’s game. There have to be serious doubts about Kobayashi and Bernabei who were several times found to be seriously short of what was required. And that third was simply awful, and how sad it is to record that Callum McGregor was involved in it!

But the worst aspect was the acceptance of it all. Even at 0-3 down, we expected some sort of a fightback from a Celtic team, but none came.

Matt O’Riley of Celtic is challenged by John Souttar of theRangers during the Cinch Premiership match b at Ibrox Stadium on May 13, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

We had two chances in the first half. Hitting the post is always hard luck, but Abada’s miskick was a real shocker, and had one of them gone in, it might have been a different game – but it wasn’t to be. And all we can do, as one of the commentators said, is feel the pain – and make sure we are not feeling like that on 3rd June.

theRangers were undeniably the better team on the day, and it means that they will now keep Michael Beale and some of the duds who played a lot better today than they have done all season. So maybe some good will come out of this!

But the main bit of good that has to come is an improved Celtic performance in the remaining games of the season. Success is never a “given”. It has to be worked for.

I wish today had never happened.

David Potter

About Author

David was a distinguished Celtic author and historian and writer for The Celtic Star. He lived in Kirkcaldy and followed Celtic all my life, having seen them first at Dundee in March 1958. He was a retired teacher and his other interests were cricket, drama and the poetry of Robert Burns. David Potter passed away on 29 July 2023 after a short illness. He was posthumously awarded a Special Recognition award by Celtic FC at the club's Player of the Year awards in May 2024. David's widow Rosemary accepted the award to huge applause from the Celtic Supporters in the Hydro.

1 Comment

  1. Wake up call for next season.
    Squad not as strong as believed.
    Europe beckons.
    Rangers tactics spot on and dominatedHoops midfield.
    Hail Hail.