‘Don’t put words in my mouth’ – McCann and Stewart clash over Rangers ‘mentality’ comment
BBC punditry duo Neil McCann and Michael Stewart have clashed over whether or not Rangers have a “weak mentality” going into this season’s title race.
The Gers are currently top of the Scottish Premiership table, but bitter rivals Celtic have a game in hand that would take them above Steven Gerrard’s men should they win it.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound, former Ibrox ace McCann suggested that the Gers did not deal with the pressure of such a battle season, as well as arguing that having no fans in stadiums could be advantageous for the his old club.
Responding to those comments, Stewart said: “So you think Rangers have got a weak mentality?”
Unhappy with the question, McCann retorted: “Don’t put words in my mouth Mikey. I don’t think they’ve got a weak mentality but I think pressure can really affect some players and have a real adverse affect on someone’s decision making within a game of football.
“The best players and sportsmen can be affected by a weak mentality during a single moment.
“Mikey are you trying to drive me down a road here? Because you won’t. I’m not going to criticise anybody here, I think you’ll have had weak moments in your career – I know I have.
“You’ve not played for the Old Firm Mikey so you won’t know the pressure that comes your way.”
Have the Gers got a weak mentality?
First of all, this is a delicious putdown from McCann, and one that Stewart walked right into.
Secondly, and more importantly, it would be misplaced to say that the Gers have a “weak mentality”.
If we’re being honest, yes, we crumbled last season, and following our disastrous form in the second half of the campaign, it was little surprise to see Celtic open up such a points gap.
But that was then and this now.
The Gers look doubly determined this season, and are arguably playing the best football we have seen them produce under Gerrard.
We won’t really know for sure where both Old Firm sides stand until they meet for the first time this season later this month, but right now, on the evidence of what we’ve seen so far this season, there’s nothing to suggest that Rangers are weak at all.
In other Rangers news, Report: Former PL legend wants to sign key Rangers star – but there is one hitch.