By Doug Ward

18th Apr, 2021 | 5:10pm

Pat Bonner destroys 'Embarrassing' Laxalt in Celtic defeat v Rangers

Pat Bonner tore Celtic left-back Diego Laxalt to shreds for his performance in the 2-0 defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.

Laxalt, 28, was turned inside out by Joe Aribo in the first half of the Old Firm derby at Ibrox, playing so badly he was substituted off by John Kennedy at half-time.

After the first half ended, ex-Celtic goalkeeper Bonner tipped into Laxalt, claiming he never got the fuss about the former Inter Milan defender.

“I never got Laxalt,” Bonner told BBC Sportsound on Sunday afternoon.

“I was beginning to doubt myself when I heard all of this praise for him when he came in. I just saw a player that was constantly getting caught up the park and not busting a gut to get back into position. I saw a guy who was giving the ball away way more often than a player of his CV should give it away.

“It wasn’t just the kind of praise that Laxalt was getting, it was the simultaneous criticism [Greg] Taylor was getting as if Taylor wasn’t Celtic class just because he was from Kilmarnock. Taylor’s not an international full-back but he’s a better player than Diego Laxalt. He’s every bit as good, if not better, at getting forward and I think he’s a better defender.

“I don’t think Taylor would have got done by Aribo in that moment. Maybe because he’s Uruguayan and played in a World Cup, he’s played at a higher level, maybe that’s what turned heads but when he got done by Aribo there, it was kind of embarrassing.

“It was so easy for Aribo, a player who’s playing at the top of his game.”

Historic performance by Laxalt

It’s been a while since we saw a Celtic player perform as badly at Ibrox as Laxalt did in the first 45 minutes on Sunday.

The Uruguayan international was tormented by Aribo and Nathan Patterson down that right-hand side for Rangers.

According to Football Insider, Laxalt will cost Celtic £4.5million if they want to sign him permanently in the summer from AC Milan and we really do hope they sign him.

In truth, he’s one of many rotten players Celtic have signed in the last 12 months and one of the reasons why they’ve been so far behind us this season.

Of course, Rangers have done what they’ve done this season because of themselves, first and foremost. But Celtic’s demise has played a role in winning the league so easily.

Players like Laxalt are one of the reasons. We’re more than happy for them to continue signing players of his ilk in the future.

In other Rangers news, Davie Provan has launched a bizarre attack on Glen Kamara’s lawyer.