Celtic Already Won The League’ – Roy Keane’s Quality Response To Ian Wright | Latest Celtic News

Former Celtic midfielder Roy Keane has defended the Hoops after another former Celtic player, Ian Wright, praised the intensity of the recent Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park in comparison to the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Sunday, which finished 0-0.

With Celtic losing the Glasgow Derby 3-2, the game was more of a moral victory for Rangers rather than a result that would in any way define Celtic’s season or affect the Hoops winning a domestic treble, having already beaten Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup final in December on penalties and Rangers being eliminated from the Scottish Cup in February by Queen’s Park.

Keane, who played for Celtic in the last five months of his career, winning the League Cup and Scottish Premiership, including a Man of the Match performance in a 1-0 win at Ibrox.

The Irishman, who grew up a Celtic supporter, was quick to point out a mistake in Wright’s logic when the Englishman highlighted the intensity of the Glasgow Derby last month.

Wright said: (Stick to Football podcast), “A game I saw, Roy, was the Old Firm derby a couple of weeks ago when Rangers won 3-2. It was a game.

“It was end to end, players trying, tackles flying, no-one got booked for 35 minutes, the VAR didn’t get involved in it. And it wasn’t like, oh my God, it’s Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“It was Celtic and Rangers and they were going for it. And it was one of the most entertaining games I’ve seen for a long time.”

With Keane hitting back in his usual quick-witted manner, he reminded Wright that while Celtic’s season was far from defined by a single defeat.

Keane said: “Yeah, but the situation was that Celtic already have won the league, so Rangers are going to come and have a go, aren’t they?

“When we’re watching games, our teams, like just United at the moment, or even City, their focus is more about not losing than going to win. That was definitely the case on Sunday. I know it’s not the case every time (Celtic and Rangers) play.”

Keane is clearly making a dig towards Rangers, who, when the pressure is on in meaningful games where something is at stake—whether it’s cup finals or league games to win the title—fall short. It’s all well and good turning up at Celtic Park when the Hoops convincingly lead in the Scottish Premiership.

For Celtic supporters, the Glasgow Derby defeat was undeniably frustrating, but as Keane rightly points out, in the grand scheme, it didn’t mean a whole lot long-term.