Old Firm fans are used to fighting over who is the better team. Now they are arguing over who is worse. Rangers picked up the embarrassing record as the poorest performing side in Champions League history but it was hardly a breeze for Celtic as they ended a winless campaign with a 5-1 thumping against Real Madrid. Rangers fans accept they were guff – and they urged Hoops supporters to do the same.
Gordon Ferguson, Kilwinning, said: “ Celtic scored two goals and won two points more than Rangers. It’s hardly a gulf. Is it just possible the two clubs have ultimately been rank rotten?”
Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “You have to laugh at the Celtic players congratulating each other after only losing 5-1 to a Real Madrid side who played with the handbrake on. Celtic have invented a new trophy, the Chances Created Cup! Celtic are every bit as bad as the rest of the Scottish clubs in Europe this year.”
Martin Baird, Glasgow, said: “Celtic fans are strangely happy to have been outplayed and outclassed at UCL level as long as Rangers did worse it seems? Both clubs were outclassed at this level. Rather than celebrating failure I like to celebrate the most recent high points for Rangers in Europe such as last season’s final. Can any Celtic fan tell me what their most recent high point in any European competition is for their club?”
George Wilson, West Sussex, said: “I will totally accept my team was rubbish in the Champions League and deserved nothing. Celtic supporters on the other hand are telling us they were great and would have won more points if they hadn’t missed so many chances. It’s comical listening to the argument of who was the least worst. Almost as comical as wildly celebrating a late like you had won the cup when you are 5-0 down.”
Ange Postecoglou didn’t escape criticism as Lewis Doyle emailed: “He says he is to blame for the defeat, we know that Ange. Here is a tip, get players who have the skill level to at least time tackles and pass a ball.”
Tam Williamson, Lanarkshire, said: “Madrid was a meaningless game to Celtic but Ange wants to sort out the defending. We lost goals to St Mirren and Hearts too easily so it came as no surprise that Real scored five, even though their two penalties were a joke. If Ange gambles with the same squad of players and coaches in the CL we will end up a complete laughing stock just like worst-ever Rangers.”
But John Melrose, via email, said: “Losing 5-1 to the European champions is not humiliating. Celtic managed as many shots on target in the Bernabeu as Rangers did in every home game they played in. Losing seven goals at home to a mid-table Liverpool with the whole of the UK watching and finishing on zero points with the worst record ever, that’s humiliation.”
Gerard Kelly emailed: "Rangers fans can say what they want about our team, but we support our team win, lose or draw. Rangers fans walk out after conceding three goals. That’s not a fan, that's someone who is selfish and expects their club to win every game. Welcome to reality, your team is not that good.”
Rangers had injury problems and Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “Big Nikola Katic was excellent for Zurich against Arsenal, full blooded but not bowed, he played his heart out, he never stopped or gave up. Oh how Rangers must regret letting him go.”
Hearts sealed another miserable Euro week in Istanbul and Neil Renton, Edinburgh, said: “Robbie Nielson says Hearts European adventure has been a learning curve. If that learning curve is they’re nowhere near as good as they should be and Craig Gordon needs to be dropped then he’s right.”
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