Pundits and ex-players have had their say.
Phone-ins, forums and message boards have been full of it since the Old Firm derby. Only in Glasgow could a player’s weight be the hot topic of debate over the New Year. But Alfredo Morelos has been a catalyst for conjecture – and controversy – from the moment he arrived at Rangers.
The Ibrox striker is out of contract this summer, so his future is up in the air. And to most observers, the Colombian isn’t the same player he was two years ago when he was becoming the club’s all-time top scorer in Europe. After playing his part in Celtic’s first goal in Monday’s 2-2 draw – then missing two good first half chances – the critics were out in force again.
He can’t run, he doesn’t press, he isn’t sharp enough. Most of all, he’s carrying too much timber. That’s been the gist of the flak. Morelos has received. Even Hoops star Greg Taylor was at it during the game, when he appeared to call him ‘fat boy’ in a typically heated exchange. Well now, Michael Beale has addressed the issue. And the Rangers manager’s voice is probably the most important of all. There’s a caveat that Morelos has in fact been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks to do a job for the team.
But in terms of his physical condition?
Beale is adamant that Morelos is leaner now than when he was the spearhead for Rangers’ 2020-21 title success. He said: “The boys are weighed regularly and body fats done. In February 2021 the team was in a vibrant place, about to win the league. I asked our staff what the body fats were then and what they are now. Alfredo is actually a bit better than he was then.
“It’s how you perceive it. I hate to think what people would think of me when they see me in casual clothes. I think Alfredo has always been that way. He’s no bigger than he was before. So, if back then he was a good player but the opinion now is that he isn’t, it should only be on his football. He was the exact same weight when we won 55. There are some players who you could say are model pros but they are slightly out of line from before would never guess them and I was surprised.”
Overall, Beale was pleased with the Colombian’s contribution against Celtic, especially in the second half when Rangers
dominated the game. He revealed the 26-year-old could easily have sat out games recently but chose to play when others might not have.
And given his contract situation, the manager has been impressed by his commitment to the cause since he replaced Gio van Bronckhorst in the Ibrox hotseat. When Beale worked under Steven Gerrard, there was an accusation that they were too lenient on Morelos.
But the new gaffer says if his striker isn’t at it, he won’t be slow in letting him know. He said: “Alfredo divides opinion, he always has. Against Celtic he lost the battle in the first half but won it in the second. But when I have only had one number nine, he has played when he is hurt and he has scored goals.
“Alfredo had a long injury last season. But I actually see a boy who has matured since he became a dad. He’s happy to be here. He doesn’t like to go and see the physio because he likes to play. He had a dead leg before one of the games and no one else would play. But he did.
“He had a slight issue with his hamstring against Aberdeen so we rested him against Ross County. The bruising that came out would have stopped a lot of players playing against Celtic.
“But he wanted to play and he gave us what he could. If I thought he was cheating I would say it to him. Right now he isn’t cheating anyone and I have seen him in a lot worse places, in terms of his form.
“Wherever he wants to go, whether it is here at Rangers or somewhere else, Alfredo has to perform. A footballer’s life is quite simple, you have to live well, train and play well.
“The alternatives aren’t great for anyone.”
Morelos is ready and willing to lead the line again at Tannadice today against Dundee United. But for the first time in a while, Beale has alternatives. One of them is Antonio Colak, a player he scouted during
Gerrard’s time in charge at Ibrox.
And despite his public backing of Morelos, he wants the Croat to quickly rediscover the form he showed at the start of the campaign when he bagged 14 goals.
Beale said: “We need him to. That’s the reality. I actually looked at Antonio when he was at Rijeka before going to Malmo.
“We didn’t take him but we’d done a lot of intel on him and background checks. He came here and hit the ground running, didn’t he? But he’s had calf problems and is just finding his feet again. My plan was always to play with two strikers but we haven’t had two available. I’ve had to play Fashion Sakala as a wide striker and he was fantastic against Celtic.
“In the second half, they were petrified of his pace and how direct he was. I came in thinking I’d go with Alfredo and Colak as a two, with Ryan Kent playing in and around them. I didn’t have them so Fashion has grabbed the opportunity.”
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