ARROGANCE was Celtic’s undoing, says McAvennie

JOHN KENNEDY’S claim that Celtic are still the best team in the country is sure to provoke a reaction in the home dressing room at Ibrox ahead of this weekend’s Scottish Cup clash.

For Frank McAvennie, there is no doubt about which club has the more talented individuals. But there’s simply no debate for the former Parkhead striker over which team functions best as a unit.

And he believes there has been an ‘arrogance’ stretching from board level to the playing squad at Celtic — with Kris Ajer and Odsonne Edouard singled out for particular criticism — which underpinned the doomed bid for ten in a row. ‘John Kennedy was talking about Celtic individually,’ said McAvennie. ‘I’ve always felt Celtic had a great squad but, unfortunately, individually is how Celtic have been playing this season. They’ve not played as a team. Rangers have played as a team. It doesn’t matter how many individuals you have, if you don’t play as a team you’ll get beaten.

‘Celtic have turned up at the start of the season thinking: “We will win this”.

There was a wee bit of arrogance from the board and the players to think Rangers weren’t going to put in the kind of performances they have.

‘You have to credit Rangers. They have won the league well. But Celtic haven’t turned up.

‘I enjoyed the performance at the weekend against Livingston, winning 6-0. There haven’t been enough of them this season. But if they turn up this weekend they can give Rangers a game.’

Ajer is pinpointed as one player who prioritises himself over the collective. The Norwegian international angered 1988 double winner McAvennie with his recent claim that this has been his best-ever season at the club, despite a campaign pockmarked by defensive calamities.

‘Every time Celtic have conceded a corner or free-kick, you think it could end up a goal,’ he said.

‘But big Ajer has had a great season — according to him. It’s not about individuals. It’s not about him thinking he’s had a good season. It’s about having a good season as a team — and the back four hasn’t been very good. Too many of them have been playing for themselves, rather than for the team.

‘I just didn’t like the statement Ajer made about this being his best season. He should be talking about bringing young Stephen Welsh through, and helping him through games. I don’t like the: “I’m all right, Jack” stuff.

‘And I’ve never seen a centre-half (like Ajer) that doesn’t want to head the ball. I can’t work it out. He’s 6ft 5ins and doesn’t want to head it.’

Edouard, meanwhile, may lay claim to being the Premiership’s top scorer with 16 goals but he has been far from his dazzling best this season.

The 23-year-old is a certainty to leave this summer and has a bright future ahead of him.

But McAvennie says he has been a letdown in his club’s biggest season in modern times.

‘Eddy’s a top player but he’s just not done it,’ he said.

‘I don’t think there’s anything holding him back in terms of ability. He could go to the very top.

‘But, the way he’s played this season, he’s let the supporters down and he’s let himself down because he’s better than that.

‘Against Livingston, his touch was gone. But he loves scoring against Rangers so I wouldn’t be fazed about playing him this weekend.

‘Jonjoe Kenny has been firing balls into the box and, if it was Ally McCoist or myself on the end of it, there would be goals.

‘But that’s not Eddy’s game. He likes the spectacular. Unless he beats four players and puts it in the top corner, he doesn’t want to know.

‘He has a year left on his contract and Celtic have to (cash in on him) now. Reading between the lines, it’s been agreed he will move on, but who knows?

‘At Celtic this season, from top to bottom, it’s been in a bit of disarray. Everything is slow. Even getting a new manager in is taking time. The fans don’t know what’s happening.’

McAvennie would dearly love to see Celtic win the Scottish Cup, not only to lift the gloom but as a tribute to captain Scott Brown, who leaves for Aberdeen at the end of the season after 14 years at Parkhead.

‘It’s not so much stopping Rangers doing the double. It’s more just beating Rangers, which they haven’t done this season,’ he said.

‘It’s about giving the fans something because they haven’t had much to shout about this season.

‘It would be great for them to go and win the cup — first of all for themselves, but it would be a good farewell for Scott Brown.’ l Frank McAvennie was speaking to promote coverage of Rangers v Celtic exclusively live on Premier Sports this weekend. Premier Sports is available on Sky, Virgin TV and the Premier Player. Prices start from £10.99 per month.