Michael Beale branded ‘delusional’ by shocked pundit for what under-fire Rangers boss said after Celtic defeat
Michael Beale was “delusional” in the aftermath of Old Firm derby as he claimed Rangers had the better of the game, according to Peter Grant.
The former Celtic midfielder said on Go Radio, as per Glasgow Live, that he “couldn’t believe” what the Gers manager was saying after the 1-0 Hoops win, suggesting that he and fellow pundit Barry Ferguson had expected the visitors to be put “under so much pressure” which didn’t materialise.
Beale’s record in the derby fell to one win in six after Kyogo Furuhashi scored the winner against a flat Light Blues side, who missed a major opportunity against a stuttering Hoops team under Brendan Rodgers.
Grant said: “I’m not one for criticising managers because I know how difficult a job it is – but I think he’s delusional on that interview. I thought when he was talking about the game, the chances and all that, I couldn’t believe what he was saying. I couldn’t think of Rangers putting two or three passes together. They got to the 18-yard box and ran out of ideas.
“I can’t remember their centre-backs passing it into the middle of the pitch, maybe once. Barry spoke about it from the start, if I’m going in there as a Rangers manager, I am putting Celtic under so much pressure, not dropping off and allowing them to get a pass from the centre-backs or whatever.
“See that noise that’s building up prior to the match, you’ve got to go and live with that. Barry will tell you, get a shot in, get a cross in, get a tackle in – Rangers done none of them, none of them.
“For the manager to come out and say he thought Rangers were probably the slightly better side with the chances – what about the chances Celtic had?
“I hate being critical but I thought that interview was delusional if he thought that.”
Belief?
Managers frequently suggest their side were unlucky and didn’t get what they deserve from a game after the result goes against them.
And Beale can justifiably point to being hard done by when it came to Don Robertson’s decision to call Cyriel Dessers’ challenge on Gustaf Lagerbielke a foul and rule out Kemar Roofe’s early strike after a VAR review.
But when this game represented arguably the best opportunity for a meaningful Old Firm victory in his time at Ibrox he and his players badly let down, so while a former Celtic man might claim Beale was wrong either way his own fans may have felt something similar.
Supporters were already concerned after the opening day loss to Kilmarnock, then the lack of rhythm from the new signings in attack and the repeated errors in defence before the collapse at PSV saw Champions League qualification hopes destroyed.
So when Beale talked up a response to that ahead of the weekend clash with the Glasgow rivals, only to see his side produce a performance which was only another disappointment, he was setting himself up for problems.
It is not the first time that he has drawn the pressure onto himself before a Celtic game and come off worse for it, as he did the same before the League Cup final defeat last season where his team selection was widely panned.
Whether he genuinely believes his side were on top at Ibrox on Sunday or not only he will know, but either way he was on the losing side again will know fully well that his job is under pressure now in a way it hasn’t truly been since he took over.
In other Rangers news, a replacement is already being tipped with an “early” switch in the dug out on the cards.