Celtic supporters had their day of crowing on the Hotline on Wednesday after the Hoops’ superb Champions League victory over RB Leipzig. And that can mean only one thing – Thursday’s version was come comeback day for rival fans not quite as chirpy about Brendan Rodgers and his side’s credentials.
Graham Roberts, Edinburgh, said: “The arrogance of some Celtic supporters after their victory over Leipzig is astonishing. They scored a fluke goal from a cross which deceived everyone including the Celtic players. Then a keeper with Vaseline gloves gifted another goal, otherwise it’s a one-all draw. For some to say ‘no one will want us in the play offs’ is laughable. I’m sure Dortmund will be praying for them again and Atalanta will fancy another crack to put the four or five goals they deserved against them a few weeks ago.”
Alfie Mullen, London, claimed: “Celtic fans are getting carried away with the Leipzig result. The German team are having a mare of a time in the Champions League. Celtic are only the most recent team to beat them. If Celtic think after beating Leipzig, they are going to progress in the competition, they’ll be in for a rude awakening.”
Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “Perhaps it’s time that the Rangers fans paid homage to Celtic’s European run!! Then again perhaps not as when Rangers disposed of both Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig the Celtic regulars called them third rate clubs. Now it seems that they have had a change of mind or they have taken some truth drug as they now call them elite clubs. You can’t have it both ways.” And Robert Forrest emailed: “The record of three of the four teams Celtic play at home – Bratislava, Leipzig and Young Boys – is played 12, lost 12. Goal difference minus 28. Luck of the Irish I suppose.”
Celtic fan and regular caller Gordon Ashley had claimed Reo Hatate, Nicolas Kuhn and Arne Engels would soon boost the Parkhead coffers by £80million on the back of their display against Leipzig. But Dr Robert Pender emailed: “It sounds like Gordon has been on the strong stuff. His valuation of players is laughable after one game. However, well done Celtic and before I forget Gordon support your local team Ayr rather than glory hunt.”
Kilmarnock fan Jim McClean, Rothesay, said: “I am not taking anything away from Celtic’s victory but one swallow does not make a summer. The hype might be deserved, but I would wait and see how the next three European games go before they can say they have conquered Europe. I just hope the go easy on my team on Sunday,”
Thankfully it wasn’t all negativity surrounding what was, of course, an excellent result and performance. Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, said: “It was great to see Callum McGregor getting the praise he certainly deserves. How any fan, and there are some, can say he is finished is criminal. He’s an amazing captain.”
On to other matters and Ally McCoist reckons Steven Gerrard would be welcomed back by Rangers fans IF Philippe Clement was axed. But Eddie Easson, Ballingry, said: “So Coisty reckons the Messiah Steven Gerrard would be welcomed back? His record against Rodgers is hardly record breaking reading. And one gifted league during Covid when Celtic were mismanaged by the board. Celtic learned from this. Can Rangers say the same? They are making the same mistakes season in season out.”
Finally, seven clubs across the Championship and League One are threatening legal action against the SPFL over a ban on artificial surfaces in the top flight. But Joe Hailey, Ballieston, said: “The seven lower league clubs; Airdrieonians, Cove Rangers, Falkirk, Hamilton, Livingston, Queen of the South and Raith Rovers should all be thrown out of the Scottish senior game if they insist on playing on those ridiculous plastic pitches. Football is played on grass, end of story. Kids football is played on plastic, so if you don’t want to play with the grown-ups then that’s fine.”