Ally McCoist and Shay Given bicker on talkSPORT ahead of Rangers and Celtic return legs
Ally McCoist and Shay Given squabbled on talkSPORT this morning ahead of Rangers and Celtic’s European second leg ties tonight.
Gers welcome Borussia Dortmund to Ibrox leading 4-2 in the Europa League, while the Hoops travel to Bodo/Glimt looking to overturn a 3-1 Europa Conference League deficit.
Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast today (24 February, 08.30am) the Light Blues record scorer launched in with a dig at the Glasgow rivals’ first-leg defeat, saying: “It’s the first time a Scottish team has been beaten in Europe by a wifi password.”
In trailing the match at Ibrox tonight he said “Go on the Rangers!” prompting Celtic-supporting Given to step in.
The former Newcastle keeper brought up the Old Firm derby and said: “Woah woah woah. I’ve seen Bodo/Glimt play more football at Parkhead than Rangers. Couldn’t get the ball off them so don’t start piping up now.”
McCoist wasn’t thrown off though: “Shay, Shay. We were not very good, I accept that. However we’ve made a little bit of a semi-recovery and there’s an awful long way to go”.
High stakes
The differing fortunes of the two Glasgow sides in Europe last week was in stark contrast to how the title race in the SPFL has turned since the start of 2022.
The Old Firm derby was a sobering occasion for Giovanni van Bronckhorst as his side were thoroughly outplayed in surrendering top spot.
But the recovery since, culminating in the huge European away win has shown what his players are made of.
Considering how strong Celtic have been domestically their home defeat to the Norwegians was surprising.
Bodo/Glimt, for their part, will likely not be used a punchline to many more jokes if they continue the way they have this season in Europe, having taken four points off Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the group stage, including a massive 6-1 win at home.
The bragging rights across Glasgow could swing back the other way if tonight’s results reverse last week’s showings.
If the Light Blues fail to complete the job at Ibrox, the heroics in Dortmund will always have an asterisk next to it.
In other Rangers news, a former FIFA referee has said the club would have been awarded a penalty with VAR at Dundee United.