Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd fumes at ’embarrassing’ Rangers Champions League claims
Kris Boyd was left “embarrassed” by any suggestions that Rangers are better off competing in the Europa League over the Champions League this season.
A miserable week for the Gers culminated in a 1-0 Old Firm defeat to Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday (3 September), a setback that followed a limp Champions League exit.
Michael Beale’s men were defeated 5-1 by PSV in Eindhoven to exit 7-3 on aggregate in the playoff round, missing out on the group stages and entering the Europa League.
Former Gers striker Boyd said that anyone who thinks Rangers are better off competing in Europe’s secondary competition is talking “drivel”.
“You don’t get time. You’re four points behind Celtic. Your objective was to get into the Champions League, you’re out of that and I listen to all the drivel during the week as well saying it’s better to play in the Europa. It’s embarrassing,” he said as a pundit on Sky Sports.
“There’s £20million to Celtic again [where they’re] ahead of you, ahead of Rangers, it’s embarrassing. For anyone to come out and say at least we can go out and compete in the Europa League, give me peace.
He added: “There was more of a positivity around Ibrox because of the two Celtic results, nothing to do with Rangers’ performances and I think that has been shown up this week. Embarrassed in the Netherlands on Wednesday night and you’ve got to say embarrassed here today with Celtic maybe four or five players away from their top team.”
Pulling no punches
Kris Boyd was clearly not in the mood to pull punches after seeing Rangers limp their way to defeat in the first Old Firm derby of the season, a crucial one even at this early juncture of the campaign.
That it should come so soon after Michael Beale’s men were humbled so badly by PSV in the Champions League would only have added to the former Scotland striker’s fury.
And he is absolutely right in what he is say. Is it likely Rangers would have competed in the latter stages of the Champions League? No. Would they have been expected to get out of the group stages? Again, probably no. And will they likely have a greater chance in the Europa League? Yes.
But who on earth would not to be playing in Europe’s elite competition? Not just because of the riches it brings in financially, but just from a pride standpoint surely you want to be playing among the best in the business?
Rangers have endured a miserable old week, and Beale is going to have to do a lot of soul searching to find an answer to the woes.
In other Rangers news, Neil Lennon slammed the “poor” Connor Goldson following the Old Firm clash.