Celtic host Glasgow Rangers this weekend, and Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean has suggested that Brendan Rodgers’ recent comments may have been an attempt to fuel the fire.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean has hit back at Brendan Rodgers’ claim that St Mirren were the best team that Celtic have faced this season by suggesting that the claim was made with one eye on the Hoops’ next opponents, the Daily Record reports.
The Bhoys boss made the suggestion about St Mirren following their victory over the Championship side in the Scottish Cup last weekend (via Record), despite Celtic ultimately dispatching them 4-1.
But McLean – whose Aberdeen are, once again, set to be the Hoops’ closest rivals in the Scottish Premiership – has hit back at the idea that Rodgers was being genuine and suggested that he made the comments fully aware of the Old Firm game being on the horizon.
“It could have been a wee dig at Rangers,” he said, as reported by the Record.
“If that’s his opinion then fair enough. But if it’s a dig and it gets under people’s skin then he’s doing his job.
Celtic’s Moussa Dembele in action with Rangers’ Philippe Senderos
“There’s nothing we can do about it. Everybody’s trying to stop Celtic this season and they’ve not been able to do it.”
In fairness to St Mirren, they did give Celtic a good game at Parkhead and led for a significant period of time. However, to suggest that they handed the Hoops their toughest test is probably unfair on some of the teams they have faced in the top flight.
Though the table highlights their dominance, they have been helped by a handful of comebacks and narrow victories to take them to within touching distance of the title this early in the campaign.
Celtic’s Scott Sinclair in action with Rangers’ Wes Foderingham
And while they dismantled Rangers in their first meeting with the Ibrox side this season, the subsequent two meetings have been closer and been decided with a margin of just one goal.
And Graeme Murty will be hoping that his side can build upon that and put in a performance that prompts Rodgers to make similar comments this week, even if it does annoy the Dons man further.
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