WHEN IT comes to re-writing history, nobody does it like Celtic and their fans. It was ever thus, and they have been at it again since the final whistle blew in Warsaw on Wednesday night, with the score line Shakhtar Donetsk 1 – Celtic 1.
Let's look at the facts – as much as we can measure them:
Shakhtar are currently ranked 22 in Europe
Celtic are currently ranked 51
The Scottish League is currently ranked 9 in Europe
The Ukrainian League is currently ranked 12 in Europe
On the night, Celtic had the greater share of possession
On the night, Celtic had more shots at goal
Shakhtar had to give-up home advantage and play in a foreign country because of the continuing war in Ukraine
Yet Celtic could not push home these advantages to win.
Shakhtar have seen most of their foreign players leave because of the war, which is being mainly fought around their home part of Ukraine. Their squad last night was mainly made-up of young Ukrainian players, while Celtic's squad contained just two Scots in the starting line-up, with a third coming off the bench and four others sitting, unused on that bench.
The travelling press corps from Scotland wrote of Celtic's “frustration” at not winning a match they dominated. But, this is nothing new – Celtic haven't won a Champions League game since 2017; they have posted just one clean sheet in 34 Champions League games and while their shots-to-goals conversion rate in the Scottish League is 20% (a goal from every five shots), in the Champions League it is 4% (a goal from every 25 shots).
Celtic have long been “a selling club.” Back in the day, under Sir Robert Kelly and the “Four Families” they utilised their volunteer army of Celtic-daft teachers and janitors, who effectively ran schools football in Scotland to ensure the very-best mainly Roman Catholic youngsters in West-Central Scotland arrived at Celtic Park. The best of these became 'The Kelly Kids' or 'The Quality Street Gang.'
But, a good number of these young players moved-on, sooner or later. For instance, here's a team of young Celts who won Scotland Under-23 or Under-21 caps, or even full caps, who were moved-on to English clubs: Dick Beattie; David Hay, Derek Whyte; Paddy Crerand, John Colrain, Tommy Docherty; Bobby Collins, Kenny Dalglish, Charlie Nicholas, Lou Macari, Bertie Auld. That's just 11 names off the top of my head, of whom, only Docherty didn't win a Scotland age group cap, because they didn't have such honours when he was with Celtic.
I would venture, of those 11 players, only Crerand, Collins, Dalglish, Nicholas and Macari joined a team of equal standing to Celtic. The Chelsea Hay joined was a long way from today's Chelsea.
So, a player leaving Celtic (or for that matter Rangers) years ago, was taking a step down. In recent years, Celtic has still been selling-on players to clubs with nothing like their history or prestige – they just happen to play in the mega-rich English Premier League. Where once the sold-on player was replaced by a young Scot, today, any player who leaves Celtic is usually replaced by a bought-in non-Scot.
For as long as Celtic are winning domestic honours, today's members of the Celtic Family will be happy, but, I question the long-term effects of importing badge-kissing mercenaries on the wider Celtic brand.
Call me an old romantic, if you like, but, I feel a Stein-managed Celtic side, full of fans who got to live the dream and wear the Hoops, would have emerged with a win in Warsaw on Wednesday night.
I COULD NOT, however, with any confidence, suggest any Rangers team, of whatever vintage I have seen in the past 60 years, could have beaten that Napoli team at Ibrox, later on Wednesday night.
For as long as Rangers had 11 men on the park, they had a chance of salvaging a draw. Once James Sands got his marching orders, it was a case of when, not if, Napoli scored.
I had to laugh at the Rangers fans raging at the Spanish referee, for some of his decisions. I thought he got all the big ones correct, but, like all referees, he's human. He probably went onto the park with the preconception: “Top of the Italian League versus a Scottish team – Napoli will be the better team,” and officiated accordingly.
The Rangers fans don't complain when domestic Scottish referees take the field with the view: “Rangers versus a diddy team – Rangers win today.” In Europe, Rangers (and Celtic) are all too often 'the diddy team.' Learn to live with it, the rest of us in Scotland have.
For much of the game, it was men against boys – and Rangers were the boys. They will make it hard for The Reds in the upcoming double header against Liverpool, but, on evidence this far, Rangers will do well to avoid finishing bottom of their Champions League group, and I cannot see them avoiding that fate.
There are too many players in the present team who are NRC – Not Rangers Class, and while they will still be in the top two in Scotland, these players are simply not good enough for Europe.
My Rangers-supporting friends keep raving about this Ryan Kent. I measure Rangers' left-wingers against Davie Wilson, Bud Johnston, Davie Cooper, my father measured them against Alan Morton.
I cannot bring myself to mention Master Kent in the same sentence as these prior greats. And don't get me started on Alfredo Morelos. There was a Scottish football joke of the 1980s: “What's the difference between Paul McStay and a second-hand Lada? Somebody will make an offer for a second-hand Lada.” These days, you can substitute Morelos for McStay – with his attitude, nobody will make a serious offer for him, any club doing so would simply be buying trouble. And, in case anybody doubts me – Paul McStay was a player.
Any way, on Saturday, Rangers are at home to Dundee United, while Celtic visit St Mirren on Sunday. Three points each and a few goals scored – all will be well with the world, until the reality of Europe intervenes again.
MEANWHILE, I was delighted that Hearts won 2-0 in Riga, to get their Europa Conference League campaign up and running.
They lived dangerously for a spell, when Craig Gordon, for me, Scotland's best-ever goalkeeper, kept them in the game. However, Robbie Neilson really has to do something with his defence, it was panic stations at times.
Let's hope, having posted a win, the Jambos can kick-on and contribute to keeping Scotland's UEFA Co-efficient meaningful.
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