Often as passionate as the football itself, the pundit verdicts rolled in after Celtic claimed the Viaplay Cup.
In a pulsating Hampden final, Kyogo’s double proved enough to beat Rangers despite Alfredo Morelos pulling one back for Michael Beale’s side. Victory keeps Ange Postecoglou’s team on course for a domestic Treble, and also ensures they retain the trophy that kickstarted their manager’s thus-far glorious reign.
The match was broadcast live on Viaplay Sports and featured a star-studded pundit line-up. Here’s a round-up of how they reacted to a memorable occasion.
GORDON STRACHAN
“I think Celtic deserved it in the end. I’ve got to say, great showing from Rangers.
“I actually thought when they took the free-kick: get past it and they’ll be OK. Celtic don’t have the height advantage at free-kicks.
“Michael Beale putting the three midfield players on made a big difference.
“Ange might lock himself him in a room tonight and have a good laugh, because he’s keeping it in there.
“It has to give Celtic belief. But it only lasts six hours at this club, it only lasts until tonight then they go again. That’s part of this club’s DNA.”
MICHAEL STEWART
“Rangers threw the kitchen sink at them towards the end, and you heard Jota talking about how that’s what the team’s about.
“Celtic didn’t have the fluency they did in the first-half and Rangers were going after them, but they stood up to it. You’ve got to say Celtic deserve the trophy, because they played really well in the first-half and in the second, when the chips were down, they stood up and were counted.
“It’s a massive victory for them. Not only does it maintain the progress they’re making, it also puts a halt to anything Rangers might have been hoping to get out of this.
“If you look at the period before Postecoglou came in, you knew there were guys coming out of contract and the season before was terrible for them.
“There was natural change going to happen, when Postecoglou came in the door he had a clear vision of what he was going to do. He’s barely put a foot wrong.
“His signings, the way they play… Celtic supporters and people passionate about the club, they cannot have any complaints about what he’s done.”
CHRIS SUTTON
“It’s a lesson for Rangers. Players have shot their mouths off in recent weeks.
“It’s better to shoot your mouth off when you’ve won a trophy – that’s a lesson for them. Maybe keep your mouth shut and win a trophy, then you can start celebrating.
“Where was Rangers’ ambition in the first-half? All they looked to do was contain Celtic.”
ALLY McCOIST
“Celtic were the better side in the first-half, there’s no doubt about that. But I thought Rangers were just about getting away with it.
“That goal just a few minutes before half-time, you can’t argue Celtic deserved. The disappointing thing in recent Celtic-Rangers fixtures, Celtic have really started the better side.
“I thought that was something that might be different today, something Beale might have instilled in the players – and maybe he was attempting to do that and we’re not giving Celtic enough credit.
“But I’m disappointed with the way Rangers started the game. I thought they should’ve have been more on the front foot.
“I don’t think it’s fear, a lot of the time the opposition won’t let you do it, but the last four or five games Celtic have come out and dominated the early stages.
“That was the case today, but Rangers nearly got away with it leading up to half-time. But Rangers didn’t start to play until they lost the second goal.”
BRIAN LAUDRUP
“It’s completely deserved that Celtic win the cup. They were the more clinical side.
“Rangers, especially, struggled in midfield in the first-half. I just wonder if Michael Beale had changed that midfield three a little bit earlier. That’s where Rangers were not good.
“They look a lot more creative and more direct, had good legs – that was the best part of Rangers today when the subs came on. They can take that with them.
“But it was not enough.
“Postecoglou has absolutely rejuvenated Celtic. After five or six games, everyone was telling him what Scottish football was all about, but since then he has not looked back.
“He’s done an incredible job. He’s been rumoured to go down south and that just shows you how much quality this manager has.
“I take my hat off to him.”
