Michael Beale has been forced into a Rangers trophy recount after his slip of the tongue was pounced on by Celtic fans.
The Ibrox boss is counting down to this weekend’s Viaplay Cup final against Celtic with the first piece of silverware of the season up for grabs. Beale is targeting his first triumph as a manager outright, having been part of Steven Gerrard’s coaching staff when the Light Blues ended a decade of Hoops dominance and secured their 55th Scottish league title back in 2021.
Since then, Celtic have regained the upper hand in the league under Ange Postecoglou after the Aussie transformed Neil Lennon's misfiring misfits to lift the crown last season, and they look good to repeat the trick this year with a nine point cushion over their city rivals at the summit. Trophies were almost a constant in Glasgow’s east end over the last ten years as Lennon, Ronny Deila, Brendan Rodgers and Postecoglou racked up the medals.
The current Hoops boss could perhaps be forgiven for not getting his numbers quite right, but it was Beale who boobed when looking back on Gers’ recent hits. He was talking up his team’s big game credentials ahead of Sunday’s showdown, mistakenly claiming that the Govan club held two of the last four honours up for grabs in Scotland.
He said: “Listen, out of the last four trophies that were handed out in Scotland, two were handed out to Rangers, no? The league [which Rangers won in 2021] and then Celtic won the league, Celtic won the League Cup and we won the Scottish Cup."
And while that 2021 title success may be fresh in Beale’s mind, May’s Scottish Cup final win after extra-time over Hearts is Rangers’ only trophy since, making it one out of four. St Johnstone claimed the 2021 Scottish Cup by beating Hibs at an empty Hampden. Celtic won last year’s instalment of the League Cup before cruising to the title before Rangers ended the campaign with that victory over the Jambos.
And Hoops fans have jumped on the error. One tweeted: "That would be embarrassing even if it was true."
Another added: "Rangers, Celtic, Celtic, St Johnstone...what are you smoking?"
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