'Any Celtic fan...' - BBC pundit fires back as Tom English issues Rangers verdict in last 24hrs

BBC pundit Pat Bonner has fired back at Tom English who suggested that Celtic must learn from Rangers given how they approached Borussia Dortmund.

The Hoops suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat against Dortmund in the Champions League league stage game on 1 October.

In comparison, Gers, when they took on the Bundesliga giants back in 2022, picked up a 4-2 victory at Westfalenstadion.

Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Scottish Football Podcast, English said, as quoted by the Scottish Sun: “So Celtic get annihilated tonight.

“In February 2022, Rangers go to Dortmund and win 4-2.

“That Dortmund team was [Gregor] Kobel in goal, he same goalie as tonight, [Raphael] Guerreiro, Hummels, Akanji, Reus, Brandt, Bellingham, Witsel, that’s a pretty decent Dortmund team, they went on to finish second in the table behind Bayern Munich that year.

“Why can Rangers find the pragmatism and Celtic can’t? Routinely can’t”

At that point Bonner fired back: “Listen, I don’t think any Celtic fan would want lessons from Rangers in this!

“You look at your own team and come up with a plan.”

Rangers are undoubtedly a better team in Europe than Celtic

Bonner’s retort to English exemplifies a reluctance to concede that Gers might possess a strategic edge in European competitions, particularly highlighted by their pragmatic approach against Borussia Dortmund.

While Celtic faced a crushing defeat, the Ibrox outfit managed a commendable victory against a similarly formidable Dortmund side, showcasing their ability to adapt and compete at higher levels.

Bonner’s dismissal of learning from Rangers underscores a defensive stance, perhaps rooted in rivalry rather than an objective assessment of tactical acumen.

Celtic’s abysmal performance against Dortmund was a stark lesson in the need for tactical pragmatism in Europe, something Gers demonstrated effectively.

For the Light Blues, the challenge now lies in translating this European prowess into consistent domestic superiority over Celtic, which remains elusive despite their commendable European outings.

This dichotomy suggests that while they might hold an edge in European contexts, the domestic narrative still hangs in the balance, with Celtic often maintaining the upper hand.

In other Rangers news, a takeover development may be on the cards for Gers amid a recent £50million problem.

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