Rangers legend Barry Ferguson feels Danny Rohl should be showing Celtic more respect leading into tomorrow’s derby clash.
In his press conference yesterday, the Ibrox club’s boss expressed his surprise that the men from across the city didn’t attempt to go for broke against Stuttgart and score more goals to try and overturn the first leg deficit.
He also raised the dilemma Martin O’Neill faces in picking his goalkeeper for the game, which irked the Celtic boss.
Ferguson, who has had two spells as Rangers captain and one as interim manager, says it was always in his nature to show more respect to your opponent.“Every time I came up against Celtic, you have to respect your opponent,” Ferguson told Go Radio.
“That’s just the way I was brought up, and I always did it. I think if you go in and don’t respect your opponent, then you are in for one almighty fall.”Following Luke McCowan’s assertion that no other team in Scotland comes close to Celtic on their day, Rohl said: “When you see their line-up from Thursday night, I expect some changes. It’s normal that they try to use the full squad.
“But I was a little bit surprised after 1-0 (v Stuttgart) that they were not trying to win this game 2-0 or 3-0 to have a chance. They kept the result until the end.
“But yeah, it will be interesting as well their goalkeeping situation and what he (O’Neill) does now. Let’s see.
“But we’re prepared. We’re focused on ourselves and we also have some interesting decisions to make.”
O’Neill responded: “He said what?“He felt we didn’t try and win the tie?
“He wants to be involved in some of these games!
“I never saw it like that.
“We were driven back. Stuttgart are a very good team, they’re top four in the Bundesliga.
“So yeah, I’m surprised he made a comment like that.”
Moving on to the goalkeeping comment, he added: “So he’s picking our team? Well done, old Danny!
“He’s only been in less than a year himself. He’ll soon know all about it in the next four or five years.“Okay. There is very little to comment upon really.
“I must sit down here and see if I can find out if he has a choice between some players and I can put my oar in there and find out what he’s doing.
“I have to laugh. He’s had a comment about our team? The picking of the team?
“Extraordinary. Absolutely extraordinary. He hasn’t been in Glasgow long.”