Rangers coach Neil McCann has responded to Brendan Rodgers’ criticism of Václav Černý’s controversial water bottle incident at Celtic Park during the recent Glasgow Derby, where the Rangers winger sprayed water at Celtic supporters while celebrating a goal.
Rodgers acknowledged the intense emotions that come with the Glasgow Derby but expressed disappointment over Černý’s actions, saying that spraying fans with water during a celebration was disrespectful. He added that he would not accept the same behaviour from Celtic players, stressing the importance of maintaining respect in such a fiery game.
When asked to respond to Rodgers’ comments that Černý had disrespected Celtic fans, McCann’s response was short and blunt:
He said: (the Rangers Review), “Did he? I haven’t seen it.”
With that answer, McCann abruptly walked off, leaving many to speculate on his tone and intent.
Whether McCann’s comment was sarcastic or simply dismissive is open to interpretation, but it was clear that his reaction wasn’t one of agreement. His response appeared deliberately designed to provoke a reaction, possibly aimed at deflecting attention from the incident itself. McCann’s body language and quick departure suggest that he was either uninterested in engaging further or perhaps trying to downplay the importance of Rodgers’ response to the incident.
Some might argue that McCann’s response was a subtle jab at Rodgers, potentially born out of jealousy or frustration. After all, Rodgers is a manager with an brilliant reputation and successful at the highest level, while McCann, who has failed in charge of Dundee and Inverness, words won’t carry the same impact in the football world.
McCann could well have been taking a dig at the amount of attention Rodgers’ comments were receiving, turning the focus back onto Rangers and away from the criticism, despite Černý showing a serious lack of class.
Whatever McCann’s true intentions were, one thing is certain: the incident from Černý was classless and shows the culture that is allowed to thrive across the city. You wouldn’t see the same from Celtic if they won at Ibrox, as respect for opponents and fans is always upheld, even in the heat of the most intense games.
