Rangers: Chris Sutton believes Fashion Sakala small fry comments will fuel the Celtic fire for ViaPlay Cup Final
Chris Sutton believes Rangers attacker Fashion Sakala’s comments about Celtic in the build-up to the Viaplay Cup Final were “small fry” and will only “fuel the fire” for Ange Postecoglou’s side, he wrote for the Daily Record.
The Zambian caused a stir in the media earlier this week, having referred to the Hoops as the “other mob” in his press conference before the two sides meet on Sunday (26 February).
The Gers forward has received criticism from wide areas of the punditry game since then, with Barry Ferguson suggesting Sakala should show a little more “respect” regardless of the opponent.
And former Celtic player Sutton didn’t hold back in his assessment of the 25-year-old in his weekly column (Saturday 25 February) for the Daily Record, saying: “Sakala might have been pandering to the masses in his Viaplay Cup Final press conference but I’m sure there were even sensible Rangers fans who would have groaned at some of his comments.
“Talking about Rangers being ‘better than Celtic’ when they failed to win the league last season and are nine points behind this year is just embarrassing.
“Calling Celtic ‘the other mob’ is no big deal really, but it’s all a bit naive from the attacker. It was the same with Mick Beale’s refusal to name their rivals a while back. It’s all just a bit small fry. Listen, I don’t quite buy the old cliché about pinning up stuff to the dressing room wall as motivation.
“I’m not sure Celtic will need any extra motivation to win a cup final, but if they did then this will only fuel the fire.”
Blown out of proportion
Sutton and the whole of Scottish football seem to have made something out of a stray comment in the heat of the moment by Sakala.
Yes, it was possibly a little uncalled for, but the Zambian was only trying to put across his determination to claim silverware against the club’s most bitter rivals, and these are the words that came out.
The attacker will likely be starting on Sunday, and after being given a new lease of life by Michael Beale he could well continue to fill the headlines if finds his top gear. His lethal pace and dribbling ability can be a handful for the very best defenders in the league, and on his day, Sakala can light up any game of football.
Sakala can let his football do the talking and prove to Sutton that his controversial comments can be backed up by the performance to match. Don’t be surprised to see the Zambian’s name on the scoresheet at Hampden Park this weekend.
In other Rangers news, the club have pulled of a major transfer coup with a deal already signed for a player who was interesting two English giants.