Celtic’s cruel Champions League exit has been met with admiration and praise from some of the biggest names in football, with respected pundits, managers, and players acknowledging the Hoops’ progress and performance levels in Europe this season. But, as always, Kris Boyd had other ideas.
The Sky Sports pundit, who is supposed to be promoting Scottish football on the biggest UK platform, opted for a petty, small-time response, openly admitting he celebrated Bayern Munich’s late equaliser.
“I’ve never been so delighted to see the ball hit the back of the Celtic net in all my life!” Boyd declared live on Sky Sports. He then attempted to soften his stance by acknowledging Celtic’s improvement under Brendan Rodgers, saying:
“No, listen… when you look at how far Celtic have come under Brendan Rodgers in such a short period of time, when you consider they were on the end of a really, really embarrassing defeat in their last visit to Germany by losing 7-1, they have recovered from that and put in some terrific performances.”
It was a half-hearted admission at best, overshadowed by his initial outburst, which perfectly sums up the mindset of many Rangers fans right now.
Boyd Hasn’t Had Much to Celebrate This Season
It’s little wonder Boyd clung onto Celtic conceding—his own club has given him very little to enjoy this season. Rangers have:
• Lost the League Cup final to Celtic
• Trailing Celtic by 13 points in the Premiership
• Been knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Queen’s Park in one of the most embarrassing results in recent memory
With Celtic dominating the domestic scene and actually gaining credibility in Europe, Boyd’s reaction comes off as a desperate attempt to deflect from Rangers’ own failures.
The Bigger Picture
While Boyd and others use Celtic’s exit as a comfort blanket, neutrals and respected voices in football have been praising the Hoops’ performances. The 1-1 draw in Munich saw Celtic hold their own against one of the best teams in the world, and while they ultimately went out, they left with their heads held high.
Celtic continue to represent Scottish football in a positive light, even in defeat. Meanwhile, Boyd’s comments remind us that some people will always focus on point-scoring over genuine footballing analysis.
