Daniel Feliciano

Sat 13 May 2023 10:10, UK

Chris Sutton has admitted that he has been left “bemused” by Michael Beale’s decision to use Alfredo Morelos despite knowing he would be leaving Rangers.

Beale confirmed after the 1-0 win over Aberdeen that Morelos would be “moving on” in the summer and criticised his performance, but has since confirmed the Colombian will still be involved in the squad to play Celtic on Saturday (13 May).

But Sutton has told Beale that he should take a page from the book of Ange Postecoglou across the city when doing his rebuild at Ibrox in the summer, because his decisions have backfired.

“Beale has to get that spot on if he is to have any hope of overhauling Celtic next season and, with that in mind, the whole Morelos affair in the past few weeks has left me bemused,” he wrote in his Daily Record column (13 May).

“Last weekend, Beale basically came out and said what everybody could see for weeks. That the Colombian was leaving and he wasn’t very fit.

“Now I understand the manager had to try and get a tune out of his players in the final few games. With a chance of a trophy still there, he needed to keep them onside, so couldn’t lob people under a bus. But to pick Morelos to start the Viaplay Cup Final, the Scottish Cup semi-final and the win-or-bust Premiership game at Celtic Park now looks, quite frankly, odd.

“Morelos was off the pace in all of those matches, even if he did score in the first one and perhaps should not have had a goal ruled out in the second.

“Now I’m not inside the Rangers Training Centre every day. For all I know, Morelos was flying around all week in training before those matches and looking as sharp as a tack.

“But the evidence on the park didn’t suggest that was the case. And, if he wasn’t, then you have to ask what message that sent to the rest when he is still picked.

“It’s one thing being desperate for a result. But standards have to be met and set. Take the example across the city from Postecoglou.

“It was reasonably obvious after the World Cup that Giorgos Giakoumakis was going to be leaving Celtic. Selling in January could have been a risk. Oh Hyeon-gyu has done well and Postecoglou would have known what he was getting, but losing Kyogo to injury would still have left Celtic short. No doubt.

“I’m more taking a view that it’s a case of, if you are not 100 percent on board with us, you are no use to us. Such a decisive approach sends a clear message around any dressing room.”

Annoying

It’s hard to say and we hate to say it, but Sutton is spot on about this topic when it comes to how Beale has used Morelos this season.

It made sense to try and get a tune out of him when he first arrived because of their relationship and the fact Morelos is our best striker when he’s really on it.

But he hasn’t been on it for a long time and hasn’t even looked close to being good enough to lead the line. As soon as Beale knew that he wouldn’t be sticking around, that should have been the end of his time in a blue shirt.

It sets a horrible example to those players in the squad battling for their position and being overlooked for someone who definitely won’t be there anyway, but also it shows players that they can get away with murder if he likes them.

He should’ve been dropped ages ago and he shouldn’t be wearing the Rangers shirt again. Beale has to sort it out and set standards during the summer that are non-negotiable, or he’s just fighting a losing battle.

In other Rangers news, talks have begun with the agents of a player over another seven-figure transfer.