Anthony Ralston provided a fair and honest assessment of the dreadful Celtic performance at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon which allows theRangers to win the Bragging Rights Trophy thought up by Sky Sports on the spot to provide additional summer comfort to the Ibrox fanbase after their 3-0 Dead Rubber triumph.
“It can’t happen again, we know that. We have our standards and we won’t hide away from that. It’s not in our nature. We haven’t got to the position we’re in by hiding away from things and accepting things. We face-value everything we’ve done from day one and we’ll continue to do that,” was the Celtic right-back’s assessment – as reported by Scottish Sun – of the woeful display from a weakened Celtic side. The changes made by the manager on top of key players missing out through injury is however not an excuse that will wash with Ralston or indeed anyone in the dressing room.
“No matter who comes in, we’re all quality players. At Celtic, you’re expected to be at the highest level at all times when you’re called upon. So we won’t use any excuses. We weren’t at our best, first and foremost. We have to be honest with ourselves,” Ralston admitted.
“We’ve been absolutely terrific this season and we’re champions for a reason, because consistently over the course of the season we’ve implemented how we want to play. It’s quite plain and simple, we didn’t do that. There was no drop-off.
“It’s been drummed into us that every game is a new game. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done, it doesn’t matter what credit you have in the bank. It’s about each game, no matter what game it is, performing to the level we want to perform at.
“On the day and any other day, it wasn’t acceptable. We’ll move on from it, but we’ll also analyse it. It’s the point I’ve made at the beginning, no matter what game it is, we have our own standards and we look to live up to them, every single game.
“Football will always remind you. But I feel we have a great group of lads. We’ve had so much success, but we don’t dwell on it. We have a changing room of lads who want the best at all times, the best standard, no matter what game. This will be dealt with, it’ll be analysed and then we can move on.”
That post match review will probably take place tomorrow as the team will have a day off today after the Player of the Year awards last night and congratulations are due to Kyogo, Matt O’Riley, Jota and of course Caitlin Hayes for their well deserved accolades.
But when Ange and his staff provide feedback on Saturday, some will be sitting there very uncomfortable indeed. But Anthony Ralston is bang on, after it’s been analysed the team will move on and attention will turn to our home game against St Mirren on Saturday when 60,000 Celtic supporters will get their first chance to collectively acclaim the Cinch Premiership winners and Scottish Champions inside Paradise.
And maybe we’ll all be back at Paradise on ‘Helicopter Sunday; to acclaim another Celtic team winning the most dramatic and exciting title race in decades, one where THREE teams have a realistic chance of ending the day as Champions and two will earn a place in the Champions League with one ending the day empty handed.
theRangers have moved their game against Glasgow City to Ibrox from Broadwood, surely Celtic must move our home game against Hearts from Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium to Paradise and get out the support for what could be a memorable title finale with a very happy ending for the Celtic FC Women side.
READ THIS…Helicopter Sunday – Rangers Move Glasgow City Title Showdown to Ibrox, Celtic Must Respond
