John Hartson names the one Celtic player who stands out above others as a ‘disgrace’ – and could have costs Hoops title
JOHN HARTSON was stunned by Celtic’s lack of heart in their weekend loss to Kilmarnock.
And one player amongst Brendan Rodgers’ stuttering squad got it tighter than all the rest.
Since dropping two points to Derek McInnes’ men on Saturday, the Hoops have dropped behind Rangers in the Scottish Premiership table and the natives are more restless than ever.
Fans bellowed out derogatory, expletive-laden chants aimed at Peter Lawwell come full-time at Parkhead, and Rodgers hadn’t escaped criticism either.
The players themselves have been called out by supporters and pundits alike.
Former Celtic frontman Hartson branded Alexandro Bernabei a DISGRACE following his performance in the 1-1 draw against Killie.
In particular for his defending (or lack thereof) for Davie Watson’s equalising goal.
The left-back misjudged the flight of the ball and failed to keep track of supersub Watson who ghosted in at the back post to nod home in stoppage time.
Bernabei cried for a foul but Watson used his arm cleverly rather than unfairly to get on the end of Fraser Murray’s cross.
The Welshman vented his anger live on the Go Radio Football Show, ripping into the Argentine defender in no uncertain terms.
An incredulous Hartson said: “At that goal, Bernabei is a disgrace. He’s a DISGRACE there.
“He doesn’t even challenge Davie Watson at the goal.
“If you’re a left-back in that position, last minute, you are giving everything to stop a goal.
“That could cost Celtic the title!”
“It’s got to mean something, you’ve got to defend that goal with your life!”
He then gestured to co-pundit Craig Moore and added “like people like him did!”
Hartson accused some of the Hoops squad of taking it easy, and echoed recent sentiments that certain players wouldn’t get a game for Kilmarnock.
He said: “Yes, Kilmarnock are doing well but you can’t let them get three results against you and still expect to win the league.
“Some Celtic players wouldn’t play for Kilmarnock. They’re coasting, happy to be Celtic players and wouldn’t play for other teams in Scotland.
“Brendan Rodgers has been missing some first team players. Cameron Carter-Vickers is out. Reo Hatate is out. But some of the players who have come into replace them, they are showing that they’re just not quite at the level.
“They should be ready to go in and give Brendan Rodgers a headache.”
Celts skipper Callum McGregor admitted after the match that the squad’s bottle was now right to be questioned.
He said: “Mentality is so key when you play for big clubs. You need to be mentally strong and be together. You need to do the basics of the game together.
“If you do that you give yourself a chance.
“If you don’t do that, it becomes individuals running about trying to do their own thing.
“We have 12 games to solve it. The players must be aware that there’s a certain standard required on the pitch.
“You turn up and something happens out of the blue where you think, ‘Where did that come from?’. That’s telling me that there’s something missing right now.
“I’ll find the answer to that, I’m sure of it.
“I will leave nothing unturned until I find the answer to that question.
“We’ve been in this position too many times this year.
“But it’s all about doing the basics right.
“When you don’t do that then the question gets asked about bottle and nerve.
“The game should be 2-0, and it should be done by half-time or by 65 minutes.
“No one’s questioning your bottle at that point, you’re doing the basics, you’re doing what the team’s asked you to do.
“Maybe we do now have a question to answer about bottle, about nerve and about everything else.”
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