Former Manchester United midfielder, Roy Keane, recently made headlines with his unexpected and impassioned critique of the Rangers Football Club. His comments have sparked a wave of reactions from sports fans and betting enthusiasts alike.
The Gers have been grappling with a challenging season at Ibrox, struggling to maintain a consistent performance level in the Scottish Premiership. This has resulted in both Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson falling behind their Old Firm rivals Celtic, who comfortably secured another league title.
Keane's sudden criticism of the Govan club has added fuel to an already burning fire. Despite their domestic struggles, however, the Light Blues have managed to impress in the Europa League.
Europa League performances
Despite their domestic woes, Rangers' performances in the Europa League have caught attention. Notably, Ferguson’s men triumphed over Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on penalties at Ibrox following a 3-3 aggregate draw across two legs.
The Gers proved their mettle against these Turkish giants and set themselves up for an exciting tie against Athletic Bilbao. Although they lost 2-0 to Bilbao after a penalty save from Liam Kelly in the first leg - which ultimately led Bilbao into semi-finals - they were generally superb throughout this season's Europa League matches.
Their impressive victories against teams like Nice were further bolstered by draws against Tottenham Hotspur FC. Even Manchester United only narrowly secured victory at Old Trafford against them.
Keane's unusual criticism
Keane’s critique came as he compared Athletic Club’s chances of getting back into their tie at Old Trafford with Manchester United to how they "just about beat Rangers" earlier on. This comparison seemed odd given that it discredits not only Bilbao but also undermines Ranger's commendable efforts throughout this season's Europa League.
Roy Keane, Manchester United legend, said:
“Bilbao just about beat Rangers, Rangers are about 300 points behind Celtic. My goodness.”
Keane's comments have been perceived as disrespectful by many, given that they take away from the Gers' commendable performances throughout the season. While Keane's critique of Rangers has stirred controversy, it has also highlighted the team's impressive performance in this season's Europa League. Despite their domestic struggles, their international success serves as a testament to their potential and resilience.
