I’ve just spoken to Fran Alonso on the Celtic media conference ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie against theRangers and I asked him about this shocking challenge by Glasgow City’s Niamh Farrelly on Celtic stalwart Chloe Craig last night. The Celtic FC Women manager does not hold back in his critical assessment of the challenge and the decision by the referee to do nothing other that award a free kick to Celtic. We’ll bring you Fran’s comments later but for those asking for some footage of the challenge, so you can judge for yourselves, here it is…
Happens in the women’s game as well, not even a card pic.twitter.com/v03XOeEnfG
— Ronnie Munro (@rondonaldo) February 10, 2022
Does the Women’s game have a Compliance Officer or does the SFA chap handle the SWPL games too? Is a challenge like that acceptable in Scottish football – it’s reckless, dangerous and could have caused even more serious damage than it appeared to. Worryingly Fran Alonso said at the media conference that Chloe Craig – who is a real warrior for Celtic and played on despite having blood running down her leg – was NOT in a good way after the match.
The Celtic players are training this afternoon, having been given the morning off, and Alonso and his team will assess the players then. Goalkeeper Chloe Logan, who collapsed with a knee injury late in the game, is obviously looking at a period on the sidelines. Hopefully it’s not as serious as it looks but in a week when she received her first international call-up for Scotland this is terrible luck for the Celtic goalkeeper.
Today Fran all but conceded that Celtic are now out of the title race as he cannot see Sunday’s opponents losing a handful of games in a league campaign which has been almost perfect so far, just the one draw and no defeats is some going. They did lose to Celtic in the League Cup and Alonso will be looking for a cup double and also a second place SWPL finish which comes with a Champions League spot. Plenty to play for then as the Celtic girls arrive at the club for training shortly and Fran Alonso sets about the task of lifting heads for Sunday.
Celtic v theRangers kicks off at 1pm at the Penny Cars Stadium so there’s plenty of time to attend the Glasgow Derby before heading to Celtic Park for the visit of Raith Rovers also in the Scottish Cup. Celtic are also showing the women’s game on Sunday on Pass to Paradise and apparently the club are also showing Celtic FC Women v theRangers on TikTok!
Here’s Fran Alonso speaking to Celtic TV after the match last night…
📹 Manager Fran Alonso's thoughts on tonight's match and an update on Chloe Craig and Chloe Logan's injuries. #SWPL 🍀 #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/9BkgUt4CYy
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) February 10, 2022
📹 We now look ahead to Rangers in the Scottish Women’s Cup!#COYGIG 🍀 #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/LRZhW0k6Ee
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) February 11, 2022
COYGIG
💻 #CelticFC Season Ticket holders can watch @CelticFCWomen in action this weekend, with the cup tie v Rangers available LIVE to all STHs via the Pass to Paradise! 🍀
Full info below ⤵️
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) February 11, 2022