It's sink or swim time for Celtic and Rangers in the Champions League after both were hit by last week’s tsunami of goals.
Positive results on Wednesday night might raise hopes Scotland’s representatives can survive the currents in UEFA’s top tournament – but lose and the Old Firm face plumbing the group stage depths.
Celtic fan David Bryce, Troon, was first up ahead of Celtic ’s trip to Warsaw in Poland to face Shakhtar Donetsk: “It’s high time Ange Postecoglou stepped up and showed his credentials in Europe. For too long we have been also-rans. We need a point at least in Warsaw. Anything less than that then our campaign is over already. The defence really needs to be tightened up. The players need to show that they are good enough to play in Europe. At the moment I’d say the jury’s out on most of them.”
And Stateside bluenose Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, is hoping to see Rangers take a bold approach when they host Napoli, saying: “If Giovanni van Bronckhorst plays an attacking formation instead of a defensive one, Rangers can win with the extra frontmen putting Napoli’s defenders under pressure.
“This game looks ready made for the likes of Antonio Colak and Alfredo Morelos to combine up front with an intense atmosphere expected at Ibrox. After some bad results you would surely think they're going to be up for this one!”
But Jimmy Mac, Glasgow, is still angry by Rangers’ failure to tool up for the Champions League, emailing in: “Is Ross Wilson the puppeteer pulling van Bronckhorst’s strings? Does Wilson have the final say on which players van Bronckhorst can and cannot have?
“The silence from Douglas Park and the board is deafening regarding where all those millions earned has gone, not to mention the pitiful selections of the new players. A complete board overhaul including Ross Wilson is required and I cannot see Park surviving as chairman at the next AGM.
“Hopefully the next chairman will keep the promises made that Rangers Football Club will be openly transparent over the club’s businesses but unfortunately the Rangers board lead by Douglas Park put a stop to that along with the chance to overtake Celtic with their downright complacency and not properly funding his manager.”
Paul McArdle, Gourock, took aim at one of yesterday’s callers, saying: “Gary Stevenson said if Celtic get a point in the Champions League, Celtic fans would rejoice like it’s the greatest achievement in Scottish football history. Wrong. That would be the European Cup in 1967, followed by 9-in-a-row twice and a quadruple treble.”
Kenny Wilson, Moffat, added: “Scott Gowers and Co think Celtic won’t cope with European football week in, week out, and we seem to already tire after 35-40 minutes. He does realise that’s more than enough time to take three points off Rangers?
“As for the quotes of saying fans thought Celtic put in a superb performance against Real Madrid. We didn’t, we just thought we competed against Europe’s best. The word competed can’t be used to describe the Rangers display against Ajax, that’s for sure.”
But George Wilson, West Sussex, said: “It shows how poor Celtic have been in Europe for years when a humiliating 3-0 home defeat last week is being hailed by supporters and ex-players as somehow a victory. Celtic never had a kick in the second half but it seems suddenly Callum McGregor is world class and Celtic hitting the post and missing two sitters gives them the win. You have to score more goals than the other team for that.”
Should Celtic fans be fearful? Should van Bronckhorst attack Napoli?
Let us know in the comments section below...
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