Rangers manager Walter Smith has labeled Celtic’s current squad a “poor set of professionals,” triggering a war of words with Hoops boss Neil Lennon following the last Old Firm derby of the season.
Celtic’s 2-1 defeat of Rangers at Parkhead on Tuesday night made no difference to a title race that Smith’s squad wrapped up last month and the action on the pitch quickly gave way to unusually acrimonious exchanges in the press room.
Smith had been infuriated by Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel’s pre-match claim that the Hoops had been the better team this season and his response represented a departure from the usual protocol that Old Firm managers avoiding inflaming the bitter rivalry between the two clubs.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“If he [Hinkel] sits down and he analyzes what he said then you have got to say why does he think they are a better team than Rangers when Rangers have won six trophies over a three-year period, reached a European final and Celtic have won two trophies?” Smith asked.
“He must feel then, if they are the better team, that something is wrong. It might be that if they had shown the same attitude they have [on Tuesday evening], especially in the first-half, then they might have been in a far better position than they are and he has got to ask himself that question,” he said.
“I can’t understand why any professional doesn’t take a good look at himself first before saying ‘we are a better team than Rangers’ because it is patently obvious they’re not and haven’t been,” Smith said.
Smith acknowledged that Celtic’s form has improved since Tony Mowbray was sacked as manager in March with his interim successor, Lennon, having overseen seven consecutive wins in the league.
But he added: “If it takes a manager to bring it out in you then you are looking at a poor set of professionals.”
Lennon himself questioned his players’ attitude following their humiliating Scottish Cup semi-final exit at the hands of First Division Ross County in only his second game in charge.
But that did not prevent him taking exception to Smith’s blast.
“That’s not Walter’s place,” he said. “He’s not the Celtic manager and he’s not affiliated with the club so I think those comments would be best left for someone at the club to say.”
“After Ross County it was my place and I think I said it at the time and asked the boys to prove me wrong and they have gone a long way to doing that,” Lennon said.
“I don’t comment on Rangers and never have done, well certainly not as a manager anyway. I think I have been quite gracious towards Rangers and their performances and the way they have dealt with things this season,” he said.
The victory at Parkhead gave Lennon a victory in his Old Firm managerial debut to go along with the 18 wins in 33 games he managed as a Hoops player.
It was Celtic’s first win over Rangers since December 2008 but Lennon is still unsure whether he will be given the manager’s job permanently.
“It is immensely personally satisfying for myself. Don’t ask me if the decision has been made or have I been told because they have made it clear to me that nothing will be done until the end of the season,” he said.
Celtic’s win was sealed by first-half goals from Lee Naylor and Marc-Antoine Fortune, which came either side of Kenny Miller’s 21st of the season for Rangers, who finished with ten men after Lee McCuloch was given a second yellow card in the final minute.
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