Micah Richards accuses Chris Sutton of making feud with Rangers boss Michael Beale personal live on BBC after Celtic win
Michah Richards was on Chris Sutton’s case in the wake of Celtic’s win over Rangers, suggesting the pundit had taken the whole thing personally.
The former Hoops striker and Gers boss Michael Beale had spent the run up to the final on Sunday (26 February) making comments about each other in the media, with Sutton dismissed as Chelsea’s “worst ever” player [Football Scotland, 16 February] and the response coming back that Beale was Manchester United reserves’ worst ever.
After the Viaplay Cup was won 2-1 by Ange Postecoglou’s side Sutton had taken to Twitter to point out the Ibrox manager’s lack of trophies in his career, before claiming he was having to “climb back into his box” after the final, leading to fellow BBC pundit Richards to give him a bit back.
Speaking live on BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club (27 February, 8.10pm) Richards asked: “Can you talk me through your Tweet then, Chris? What was your Tweet to a Mr Beale?”
After Sutton pretended not to remember he added: “Something about he’s won anything as a player and a manager?”
Sutton responded: “No that was just a factual thing.”
Richards continued: “So are you taking this personally? I think you’re being a bit… is the right word facetious? A bit personal this, Christopher, no? You’re better than that.”
But Sutton pleaded his innocence: “I’m misunderstood, I’ve said this many times, it was just an innocent stat I put out there. What’s the problem?”
Wallowing in it
If you lose the final you have to take your medicine, and Sutton was never going to let the result pass without a few responses in the direction of the Rangers manager.
His role as a pundit is usually to be the cartoon bad guy that winds people up and perhaps Beale’s comments did the same to him slightly this time, but he has had the last laugh even if it was Richards laughing at him on Monday night.
Ultimately it was a very disappointing conclusion at Hampden Park on Sunday and has provided the Bears boss with his first major hurdle since returning to Glasgow.
Clearly in hindsight he got his team selection wrong because he lost the game, and if he could do it again perhaps he would include at least one of his January signings from the start.
On another day his logic of going with the midfield that started the draw with Celtic at Ibrox on 2 January would have come good, but instead he was dealt his first loss in charge.
The 2-2 in the league was a game his side were unlucky not to win, but the cup final loss was much more disappointing, and the headline stat is now no wins from two in Old Firm derbies, which is a record that he is going to need to turnaround as an absolute priority.
In other Rangers news, the club have signed a player from under the noses of a big European side.