Back in October 2015 Celtic were heading to defeat in Norway against Molde in a Europa League group stage game, Ronny Deila made a substitution at 3-1 down taking off Kris Commons replacing him with Nadir Ciftci as we searched for a goal to give us a small glimpse of hope of salvaging something from the game.
Photo SVEIN OVE EKORNESVAAG/AFP via Getty Images.
Commons was one of the few players who looked like producing something, indeed it was his goal on the 55th minute that gave the scoreline a more respectable look. So it was a surprise when he was hooked, unsurprisingly he felt the same way as he showed his displeasure and unleashed his fury at Ronny and John Collins in the away dug-out.
The supporters also shared his displeasure as they sang his name as he trooped off the park. This was of course played out in front of the watching world and it made for big headlines which wasn’t ideal for the club.
Kris Commons was right to feel aggrieved for being taken off, everyone wants to see that passion in their players as they should always want to be on the park. However, despite the circumstances, Kris Commons was one hundred percent in the wrong to air his displeasure at his manager in such a public way. It’s not the done thing and is totally unacceptable.
No player should be disrespecting their manager in such a manner, especially publicly and it should have been the end for Commons at the club or at the very least he should have had to endure a spell on the sidelines.
Commons though was a very lucky boy and was forgiven by Ronny and remarkably was in the starting line for the league clash at Celtic Park against Dundee United three days later.
Photo SVEIN OVE EKORNESVAAG/AFP via Getty Images.
For me it was the beginning of the end for Ronny as he showed a weakness that could be exploited. He was the man in charge and should have exerted his authority. Players would have lost respect for him. Kris should have been punished to send out a message that such intolerance is unacceptable.
Ronny of course left at the end of that season and was replaced by Brendan Rodgers. Kris, who had signed a contract extension before the controversy in Norway, would not feature at all under the Irishman and left the following summer at the end of his contract.
Molde’s Ola Kamara (R) celebrates 1 – 0 during the UEFA Europa Leage football match Molde FK vs Celtic FC in Molde on October 22, 2015. (Photo SVEIN OVE EKORNESVAAG/AFP via Getty Images)
Brendan Rodgers of course was well aware of the difficulties that Ronny Deila had with a group of senior players at the club. Commons was sidelined, Charlie Mulgrew moved on and Scott Brown was sat down in London and then given a second chance.
There would be no chance that Brendan Rodgers was ever going to accept the shenanigans that the rookie Ronny Deila did while in charge of Celtic.
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