Celtic’s Derby Defeat – “I don’t think you can read too much into it,” Richard Foster

The Celtic Star

·20 marzo 2025

Celtic’s Derby Defeat – “I don’t think you can read too much into it,” Richard Foster

Celtic succumbed once again to an embarrassing Glasgow Derby defeat to our arch rivals last weekend. It was another case of the Bhoys just not turning up on the day and the opposition took full advantage of it, following on from the same scenario which unfolded at Ibrox Stadium back in January…

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, looks on prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Intensity has been lacking

Brendan Rodgers spoke after the match and revealed that it shouldn’t matter that we are 16 points clear in the race for the Scottish Premiership this season, and that the players should not be taking their eye off of the ball because of this. However, it cannot be denied the intensity has been lacking due to a firm challenge for the title this campaign in the last few months.

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With the club exiting Europe too, it has led to a general acceptance of how this season will pan out. That’s not to say Sunday’s Glasgow Derby performance was acceptable, nor does it excuse players from putting the feet up for the rest of the season and coast to the finish line. There are still several very important matches to undertake this year and we’ll have the opportunity to right these last two wrongs in the derby fixture at Ibrox come the split. That should be enough motivation for anyone playing for the club.

Barry Ferguson, Interim Manager of theRangers, celebrates with backroom staff after Mohamed Diomande scored the team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic’s massive lead could have caused the poor Celtic showing

Despite the wild celebrations from certain areas, the Ibrox outfit have yet to beat us in a game that actually matters. Richard Foster repeated this unpalatable truth on PLZ Soccer this week too, revealing until there is such a time when the pressure is on and they come up with the goods, it’s all really a moot point. “I think to go back to Tam’s (McManus) point, it’s valid. It’s when there is no pressure,” the former full-back told the show. “You know, because Celtic’s 16 points clear in the league, you hear Brendan Rodgers saying ‘that shouldn’t matter’. But we all know that it does.

Hamza Igamane of theRangers scores his team’s third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“We all know that when the other team start on the front foot and score early, you’re thinking ‘right ok, what’s this going to be’. Your forgetting that in the first-half, Butland makes an incredible save as well, from I think it’s Hatate, is it? You know that changes the narrative of the game as well. Until we get to next season and we watch the first Old Firm (sic) game, when there’s no points between the teams and there’s nothing in the league table, I don’t think you can really read too much into it.”

🗣️"It's when there is no pressure...I don't think you can read too much into it" 🤔How much can you read into Rangers' victory at the weekend? 📲Download the Arnold Clark App NOW⬇️
– martedì 18 marzo 2025