Chris Sutton and Robbie Savage Clash Over Celtic Jibes After Scottish Cup Final Loss
In a heated exchange on BBC Radio 5 Live’s 606 show, Celtic icon Chris Sutton and pundit Robbie Savage traded barbs following Celtic’s shock Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen at Hampden. The loss, which ended Celtic’s treble hopes despite their Premiership and League Cup triumphs, sparked a fiery debate over Celtic’s stature and Savage’s persistent jibes about their performance.
The row erupted when Savage highlighted Celtic’s budget advantage over Aberdeen, who won their first trophy in over three decades via a penalty shootout. “What’s Celtic’s budget compared to Aberdeen’s?” Savage prodded, implying Celtic’s financial might should have guaranteed victory. Sutton, visibly irked, fired back, “I take my hat off to Jimmy Thelin and Aberdeen. They found a way with 3% possession. Celtic were flat, but they’ve won 42 trophies since 2000, Rangers 18. They’ve made winning look easy.”
Savage’s jab at Celtic’s “boredom” with winning prompted Sutton to retort, “They’re not complacent, but sometimes you get bored of winning. Aberdeen deserved it, their penalties were brilliant.” The exchange escalated as Savage questioned Celtic’s dominance, leading Sutton to snap, “You haven’t got a clue about Scottish football’s context!” He emphasized Celtic’s European progress, citing their Champions League draw with Bayern Munich, which Savage downplayed as a loss on aggregate. “They drew, but went out. You’re celebrating a loss,” Savage quipped, only for Sutton to demand, “Do you watch the games? Celtic’s budget is tiny compared to Bayern’s!”
The debate echoed a 2019 clash where Sutton told Paul Ince, “You’ve never played at a club as big as Celtic or Rangers,” a sentiment he reiterated to Savage, defending the global stature of Glasgow’s giants. Despite Savage’s attempts to wind him up, Sutton’s passion for Celtic shone through, praising Brendan Rodgers’ side for their resilience despite the Hampden setback.
The loss stung Celtic, with captain Callum McGregor in tears, but Sutton’s fierce defense underscored the club’s high standards. For fans, the Sutton-Savage spat was another chapter in their entertaining rivalry, with Sutton’s loyalty to Celtic unwavering even in defeat.
