Rangers boss Michael Beale has shut down the manufactured outrage generated by Andy Walker and Hugh Keevins after comments the manager made about Old Firm rivals Celtic.
Beale was criticised by both Walker and Keevins for referring to Celtic as “the other team” in comments regarding the title race, with both suggesting they smacked of disrespect.
This came after Michael Beale was asked a question regarding Rangers being nine points behind Celtic in the title race.
Ahead of the trip to Pittodrie, Michael Beale was pressed on the Celtic comments and – quite ridiculously – was forced to confirm the entire thing had been blown out of proportion.
“The other day I used the term ‘other team’, I’m new back into the country but I didn’t get where I am being disrespectful to anybody,” said Beale [Rangers].
”I was asked the question about being nine points behind and my answer was that we have to win and the other team has to lose. That wasn’t in anyway disrespectful and I want to cut that short.
“I’ve got no issue with naming other team’s names – Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs or whoever it is – no way am I going to be disrespectful.
“Between now and the end of the season we have to win every game – including three Old Firms and pick up goal difference to get in front. We know it’s a tough ask but the bigger thing around that is can we get them team playing how I think football should look. Can the players look like they’re happy playing for the shirt, being together?
“That bit the other day I don’t like that because that’s not who I am. In that comment, it was a very innocent comment, that has been taken too far.
“I am a coach who respects the fact I can come back into this league, I enjoy it. There are very good managers in this league. Everybody in this league has to have a development plan.
”What Ange Postecoglou has done in his time is very impressive but it’s important now we get back on the journey I had here previously with Steven and become impressive again as well.”
Welcome back to Scotland, Mick.
Boring Michael Beale hysteria rankles with Rangers and Celtic fans
Andy Walker kickstarted the hysteria with some over-nostalgic nonsense about Rangers and Celtic players of yore being age-old pals as fans everywhere were sent to sleep by the droning tones of the former Parkhead striker’s moans on Go Radio.
Seriously, it’s bad enough we get subjected to this relic on Sky Sports with his punditry as blood-boilingly frustrating as his commentary.
The sooner Walker gets the Matt Le Tissier treatment the better and we suspect it was the newspaper coverage and not the fact people were actually tuning into hear Andy Walker than drew attention to the story.
Then there’s Hugh Keevins, who heaped the pressure on Beale and was no doubt inspired by the comments of Andy Walker, writing a whole column about it. Again, you could hear the Zs from the moment it was published.
This boring, aggravating nonsense smacks of tabloid desperation and we’re glad Michael Beale took the opportunity to shoot it down, as its the media, and not right-thinking Rangers and Celtic fans, who actually care.
Meanwhile, Celtic fans have gone into meltdown online over a tongue-in-cheek Rangers World Cup story.
