We should have known. Te picture posted of referee Ivan Kuzliak in an earlier diary suggested a man who likes to be the centre of attention, and so it proved.
The Slovakian ref, obviously a pupil of seville referee Lubos michel, doesn’t like the rough and tumble aspect of the game. He also doesn’t like it if he doesn’t get to use his shiny new whistle every couple of minutes, and as a result the game deteriorated into a series of stoppages and interruptions.
Celtic lost 1-0 in the end, after a disciplined and organised display in the san siro, despite losing dutch wonderboy ( we wonder when he will finally realise his potential ) defender Virgil van Dijk after a couple of fouls the referee deemed bookable. The second one was, but the first wasn’t. In fact, it probably wasn’t even a foul.
There were outstanding displays from Efe Ambrose, Jason Denaayer, Nir Bitton, Scott Brown and Craig Gordon, but in retrospect the decision to remove Gary Mackay Steven, with his pace and workrate, meant there was no outball.
And no threat on the Inter goal.
It was retrospectively the wrong decision, because at the time, the team had to re-organise when van dijk shrugged his shoulders and left the proceeding. Which meant that ambrose was the ready made centre half, but the hoops needed the strength of Armstrong, and in theory at least, Guidetti to try to hold the ball up in the opposition half.
It didn’t work, although Guidetti did show us that he knows how to dive.
It could have been so different, Celtic had a couple of early penalty claims denied, at least one of which should have been awarded when Armstrong was pushed to the ground when racing in on goal. Gary Mackay Steven used his pace to earn a one on one with the keeper, but elected to play the shot low instead of high.
At this stage, Celtic looked if not in control, then certainly competitive.
Then Virgil gave us his contribution….
The referee did have a bad game, theres no doubting that, but thats life at this level, and especially in Italy.
Ronny Deila agreed;
“The sending off for Virgil was very cheap.
“The referee had a bad day at work. If we had a day like that we would have lost 6-0.
The manager felt for his players, who had put in a more than decent shift;
“We have a very disappointed dressing room. I feel sorry for the players but I’m also
proud of them.
“Until the sending off it was an even game and we controlled it more and more.
“The sending off made it very difficult for us and we had to work hard defensively.
“We tried to keep it tight and hope for a chance near the end but we couldn’t make it.
“Before the sending off you could see that we have something for this level. Anything can happen in one game but there were things that ruined it for us.
“We had a very good chance to go through.
“It was tough to take but it gives us motivation to get back to this stage because we showed we can do something here.
“Now we have to use this in our domestic form so we can get back into Europe and the Champions League.
“We had to defend better here and did not go so much with the full backs as usual.
“That was a good move as Inter did not create so much until we had 10 men. Defensively, we did a good job.
“Inter have the opportunity to go on and win the Europa League, for sure.
“It’s hard to sit and speak about what would have happened with 11 against 11.
“I don’t need to say more about the referee. He had a bad day.”
Diplomatically put.
Kris Commons didn’t put it quite so diplomatically, as he harangued the Slovak at full time and also picked up a booking. I’m not sure what he said, but I think he may have used the words “idiot ” and an expletive, but not in that order.
And then there was the big story of the night-well, acccording to the MSM;
Celtic in hot water over San Siro flare as pyrotechnics are seen during Europa League defeat
Thats from the Daily Mail.
The MSM obviously have much better eyesight than hearing, as they seem to miss anything aurally offensive, yet can pick up most visual effects instantly. One hack, possibly the same one from the Mail, stephen MacGowan, he of “Rangers emerged from liquidation 2 fame, ” made the flare the subject of his first question in the post match press conference.
I’m not into whataboutery, I’m not into pyrotechnics, but its hard not to see an agenda here.
Defender Virgil van Dijk spoke about his red card;
“It was a terrible decision. That is the worst referee I have ever experienced in my career. I don’t know why he made this decision but it was shocking. I watched the whole game and I don’t understand all of the decisions he made.
“The second yellow card was just a ball in the air that two players are challenging for. We are shoulder to shoulder and Icardi got up and asked for the referee to book me again. He did that and it was a terrible decision.
“I would never ask for an opponent to be booked but it happens in football. What disappoints me most is that they weren’t yellow cards and it happened so early in the game. It was a bad decision and that shouldn’t happen.
“I don’t even know what the ref said to me. After the first yellow card, I was thinking:’What is going on here?’ It was a fair challenge. Hard, yes, but we play man’s football and that happens.
“I don’t understand that one and I didn’t understand the second one either. I knew the red card was coming and I just walked off. You can shout and scream and it doesn’t change anything. I was just hoping the team would pull off the impossible task but Inter scored a goal.”
He added an apology;
“I want to apologise to my team-mates and all the fans who travelled to Italy. I let them down and I feel terrible. If I’d stayed on the pitch for 90 minutes, we’d have had a big chance to go through.
“We had a good gameplan and we started well. We learned a lot from the first leg at Celtic Park. We stayed close together as a back four and we talked a lot.
“We had chances and I think we would have had a good chance to go through.What happened was very bad for me and for the team. I felt so bad that I had let my team mates and all the fans down.
“It’s so disappointing and I need to learn from this. I am young, I am learning every day and I’ve made high expectations for myself.
“Sometimes it’s hard to meet them because I am young but I will try to learn from this. As a team, we showed we have made progress. We have been good in the league and even with 10 men, we showed our quality. It’s just so disappointing that we are out of Europe.”
Fair enough.
I’m keeping it short today.
The team didn’t disgrace themselves, not by a long talk. alright, maybe van Dijk had been a bit naive, but his apology and reasoning in the quote above suggest he is genuinely distressed and puzzled by the bookings.
There is a team coming together under Deila, don’t forget he, too, is learning at this level. He’s a quick learner,and next season promises much if he can keep the spine of this side together, and make a few more quality additions.
Theres still a treble very much in our sights, it just doesn’t feel like much of a consolation after an eight month ride in Europe just ended with an anto climax not unlike the feeling after Seville. It should do by Sunday, though.
Seville.
Where a Slovakian referee sent off a Celtic centre half for boisterous defending…..and killed our chances of winning.
Do you think they haven’t forgiven us for giving Lubomir Moravcik his spiritual home ?
Still gutted but also quite excited by what this team has the potential to offer … the futures bright the future is green and white
The devil definitely was wearing prada last night, ivan and his prada whistle that was more than likely a little gift from inter.
Had to be a “gift”, *no one* can possibly be that incompetent …
Virgil’s spot on,both yellow cards were poor.Why were none of their players booked,for showing imaginary cards.An English ref,booked a player for that,in Europe last week.
We should be proud of our team.They battled bravely,but the ref spoiled the match.
Let’s now take our anger out on the sheep.
Nicholas on Sky,said they will at least get a draw.Really ?
We need a vociferous support on Sunday,to show our appreciation for the bhoys efforts,and to drive the team onto victory.
As usual you could have written the script. Promising start ruined by dodgy ref then valiant performance counts for nothing after last gasp wonder goal. Daftest comment of the night came from John Hartson who opened by saying if Milan scored early Celtic would need to score four. Meanwhile the rest of the “experts” sat there like nodding dogs. Where do BT Sport dig up their pundits?
Indeed, and the other two idiots said Bitton and Johansen contributed very little!!
Another channel best watched with the sound off.
A very mature performance all be it a little naive from big Virgil.
It’s also hard to criticise him very soft yellow cards, ref wanted to be centre of attention, always a scary scenario.
Great displays by Broony, big Nir, Denayer, Joe Hansen and young Armstrong. Big Gordon redeemed himself from his uncharacteristic poor show last week, what a keeper.
My bhoy was very disheartened last night but I’ve seen it all before, we have a great nucleus of a young team here, it will only get better.
On to Sunday’s big game again, us and the players wouldn’t want it any other way. Let’s put a marker down on Sunday, this is a journey I’m very much looking forward to, this young team can go far let’s sit back and enjoy the ride.
I remember Maldini pulling down Nakamura in the box before Kaka raced away and scored, I remember Amoroso diving to get Juvenile a penalty…that Slovakia cunt of a referee spoiled our chances last night, but so proud of the players for not puting their heads down and accepting defeat.
I thought Armstrong was denied a penalty, but when I watch it over and over again I still think he could have kept his feet and got a shot away, never mind.
Attention turns now to Aberdeen and if the Celtic players are annoyed about our exit from Europe, there isn’t a better team to take it out on than Aberdeen.
A few of their players have been getting a little excited about their prospects of winning the League title, it’s time to show them this will not be happening, as for Derek Mcinnes,I think he’s a hurting Hun so do us a favour Celtic, a 4 or 5 would be nice.
COYBIG!
Juventus!
I think you were right the first time!
It was very disappointing to go out in the manner we did no doubting that Ralph but I think Virgil himself has highlighted the issue of Naivety at this level in Europe.
Teams like Inter are very savvy when it comes to the dark arts of manipulating situations.
Van Dijks first tackle was a good tackle one he has put in more than a few occasions in the SPL without the refs even blinking but I think in Europe Refs are asking for less aggression or perceived aggression in the tackle and anything that comes in from the side deemed reckless.
I always thought it was tackles from behind that were the issue perhaps they amended that section?
Either way we were never going to win the Europa this Season even though we have improved we are a good way off winning anything at a higher Level.
I think we could however handle defeat a bit better though and without some of the histrionics that usually follow them.
We know refs can be shite at this level.
We know Italians can be cynical to gain an advantage
We know mistakes will be punished at this Level
We know we don’t have the Tens of millions to buy World class players to compete on a level playing field.
So what’s the point moaning about any of the above when it comes to losing?..There is none we lost,we learn from it and we move on.
Inter won’twin the Europa League either not from what I have seen these past 2 games.
We need to find ourselves a CB experienced in the Europe we also need to find a Finisher able to dominate defenders at this level.
Guidetti looked like a boy among men last night he barely put their backline under any pressure and that tells me he’s nowhere near the level we need going into next Seasons CL Qualifiers.
We come down several levels to face our nearest rivals this weekend , back to the bread n butter of the Domestic League we can win a treble this Season proveded we continue to play at the level that seen us go toe to toe with Inter Milan.
The disappointment will soon be replaced with real anticipation of a 4th treble in our Clubs history.
Something to get very excited about I think.
Here’s hoping we do.
HH
Vintage Van Dijk as far as I’m concerned – wanders out in positions he has no need to be in and then lunges into a needless challenge when already booked.
He’s nowehere near as good as he believes he is.
That said…..the ref was a world class bell-end!
The script was written. The “Dark Arts”. Until the sending off, I believed we would score and win 1-0, 2-1 or even 2-0. It looked liked Mackay-Steven or Armstrong could do the damage. Anyroad. I’m excited about this young team and Deila’s vision. It’s been a very long time since any Scottish team scored 3 against the Italians and held their own away. It was a brave and proud performance.The beautiful game.
Aberdeen? A win’s a win, but I would really like to just blow them away.
Difficult game last night but the positive was Delia’s approach. Offensive rather than just defensive. Would have been interesting game if Van Dyke had stayed on pitch.
Would like to say this is all good but Celtic will be without 2 key defenders next year.
For my sins I live amongst the sheep and they are very confident. I suppose they have every right considering recent run. On the back of Milan we will do well to come out of this game with a win.
For what it is worth, just a small point for the record (excuse the phrase) Mr MacGowan from the mail is a Tim.
“For what it is worth, just a small point for the record (excuse the phrase) Mr MacGowan from the mail is a Tim”.
____________________
An Uncle Tim?…
Ralph you called it right when you said Commons should have been on from the start he is not an impact player, Mackay Stevens would have been.
Still the atmosphere in Milan was brilliant the best since Seville, mind you it was my first European away game since Seville!
We were in the square in front of the Doma, yes the lads had a few bevies I don’t drink and can be critical of how people behave under the influence but they were brilliant, young guys trying to bin empties after broken bottles, local, older one wandering through our support affable and amazed. the police remained relaxed, there in force but not strutting their stuff, a model of how to police a basically well behave crowd of football supporters, absolutely no sectarian singing, it can be e done by some clubs others please note!
The game was ruined as we were high in the stadium that will be reduced in size once AC Milan go to their own and the decisions seemed very very poor.
Do you know a city with a big old stadium that was once highly thought of that needs a huge amount spent on it to bring it up to standard,I do.
We were kept back at the end and funneled into the bus park, Inter supporters had remained, for half an hour and they stood either side of us and applauded us, how many Scottish newspapers will carry that? Shirts, scarves and handshakes (no funny one) were exchanged, we are the best.
Charlie Saiz was spot on in his post yesterday Ronnie’s style does differ form domestic to European ties from home to away games and that clearly helps.Moti and Daviebhoy called it right too.
Even Effe was good and the players looked reasonably fresh at 2.00 am in Glasgow Airport, bring on Aberdeen.
That was frustrating. Van Dijk’s first challenge I thought was good meaty centre half challenge, got the ball, not a foul. But, having been yellow carded he should not have gone in for the second tackle – the guy was down the touchline, no real danger, so stupid of Van Dijk to give the ref the opportunity. An opportunity he wasn’t going to miss. Every 50 -50 he seemed to blow in their favour while some bad challenges from Inter players went unpunished. The elbow on Johannsen could certainly have been more than a yellow too. But I m not saying we lost cause of the ref – he didn’t help certainly but we didn’t create enough in the game itself, however I felt Armstrong’s penalty appeal was strong – at Parkhead the same ref may have given it, he seemed a homer.
Taking off GMS was key – he was the out ball as Ralph said, he had the change of pace and ability to run with the ball that would get us up the pitch. I d have thought of bringing off Brown or Bitton, dropping Johannsen in one or taking off Guidetti and leaving GMS as a free roaming attacker – the role Forrest seemed to have been playing when he came on.
I think I m done with Forrest now – what did he actually do when he came on? Never on the same wave length as his team mates, never available to receive a pass, when he did get it he lost it, don’t recall him sprinting, just doing that weird cyclone arm running thing, looked like he might be a danger, but in reality never was. He may go and do a Shaun Maloney and get fit and in form at another club, but right now he is never fit enough to make a contribution or get a run of games to get his match sharpness up, and this is the third year of this – time to cut our losses and move on I m sorry to say.
And why was Scepovic away playing with the under 20s? How much more does Ronny want to humiliate the guy, and when Griffiths got injured before the game it meant we didn’t have a striker on the bench ( Stokes rarely plays that position now, and even more rarely to any effect)
But the team played with heart, were well organised, had a good shape, at times kept the ball well, and who knows, if GMS had taken his chance or Van Dijk kept his head it may have been different. Dennayer, Matthews (in defensive work) Brown, Bitton, Johannsen, Armstong and Gordon all had good games and left it all on the pitch. Another story of ifs and maybes, another frustrating night in Italy, as our status now as a “diddy team” in Europe means we don’t get those 50-50 calls from referees.
Post got lost Ralph?
I’ll keep it short..ish.
Virgil isn’t as good as he thinks he is…but the standard he’s up against most weeks doesn’t help.
Better quality players show him up a bit…but he was unlucky to walk.
RD fecked up big time taking GMS off…that was mystifying to me.
Forrest is a total waste of a jersey…
The Ref. was a total fud…
We are a long way short of genuine European class…but hopefully we will get there.
And now that “Europe” is out of the way…. Let’s concentrate on the Treble…
Starting with a convincing win on Sunday.
Onwards and upwards Celtic.
well done celtic the future looks bright but not orange.
HH
couldn’t agree more about GMS being hooked but once VVD red carded
Celtic’s chance was gone. One more thing the constant refrain from the
MSM in Scotland about the relative quality of Celtic and the EPL
look at last nights results Liverpool out Tottenham out arsenal and Man city look done for best league in the world my arse
The difference in the home and away games was remarkable, there is no doubt the ref of the first games(home) was of a high level, happy to allow a challenge and let the game flow, so as a result their was significantly less diving/play acting and thus an exciting entertaining game.
Last night was pish, and Inter used the poor referee to their advantage …. what happened to the simulation rule introduced years ago, was this only for the World cup at he time. (can’y be arsed check when it was)
On the up side, I do believe there is a genuine plan of development and progression at Celtic and the future is bright.
We (Celtic) must learn to handle these Continental referee’s better, year after year we have issues with ref’s, I’m sure inter knew this guy was whistle happy and adapted there cheating levels to high.
P.S. I assume the Italian are still paying off referee’s, or does the mafia pay them a visit the night before.
Jimbo
Bad refereeing in Europe is far from anew experience for Celtic. I have watched them doing their stuff since the sixties. I hate to say it, but they are in many ways worse than our own. We know ours and their honest mistakes. The foreign chapies are a whole different kettle of fish and there is something truly fishy about them in spite if their blatant bias.
H H
Well inter are forked in the next round, they were handed one of the favourites, after us of course!!!
RD was inexperienced with his changes, the ref defo incompetent, let’s win on Sunday
As Johnbhoy pointed out MacGowan is a tim but so are Nicholas, Walker, Nevin, Duffy and Keevins.
Soup takers all.
Ralph
I haven’t seen the game yet but heard all the grumps. I said yesterday this season is about development and it is time for a reality check for those with higher expectations. I would hope or, rather, expect Ronny to have us sufficiently ready to have a decent chance of reaching the last 16 of the C.L. next season. But for now it is a matter of continued improvement. I think last night confirmed that objective is still being achieved. Where we go after the last 16 in the seasons ahead is very much down to money, officials and that lady who has not favoured us in Europe for quite some time. I know other teams do not matter but it is worth noting that two EPL biggish spenders also went walkies last night, Tottenham and Liverpool. So, we are not that bad, just not yet good enough.
Talking of good enough, my thoughts are drawn to the Disappearing Forrest. I have watched this lad from his days in the reserves and I have stated, often drawing criticism, he simply has not got what it takes. I am not referring to his love affair with the treatment table here, but to the fact he has been and is very overrated. Maybe I have been spoiled by watching real wingers in my day, you know the type that can beat a man, run down the wing and cross a dangerous ball. If I watched a Forrest of him winging it, it would hardly register on my electricity meter. Now, when it comes to NHS contributions, he has me nearly bankrupt – and they say it‘s us auld yins that are putting up the costs. When I first saw him in the youth team about five six years ago he had just returned from a long lay-off (surprise, surprise) and everybody was raving about how he was missed. Well. I have to say, I did not miss him and never have ever since. Now I see several people are commenting he is no good. I hate to say it but I told you so – aye about five or six years ago if my memory serves me right 🙂
Ref = short for reference. Er = mistake ! Ee = never!
H H
You’re one of the very few people to say exactly,about Forrest,what I’ve been saying for a long time…
He is undoubtedly..Over-hyped and over-rated…and a lot of people fell for it.
I played as a winger…he’s an imposter.
Mike
I was an imposter on the wing 🙂
Seriously, it’s the media that create these players. Look at the would be stars over the years that have never done it off the back pages, Rooney (going to be better than Pele and any other human, Michael Owen, one goal in the world cup and then practically oblivion. Even our own Aiden McGeady was never the player the press and fans’ imaginations made him out to be. When I think of the terrific players in my day that never got a mention, well…… – where’s me slippers and pipe????
H H
Should have been “watched a video of Forrest winging…..”
And I have the cheek to criticise!!!
H H
Fully agree with Pensionerbhoy with regard to Forrest. Watched him at Hampden in the semi he looked completely knackered after a couple of runs. Cant understand why he regularly gets on the park
Think the problem is in part how irregularly he gets on the park
I think he’s had more chances than he deserves tbh….
You’ve either got it..or you haven’t…
He hasn’t…In my huble opinion of course.
And I’ll go further..based on his recent “performances”..
He shouldn’t have been near the pitch last night…big error from RD.
elcormaco
I respect you very much, my friend, but on this one I have to say his limitations as a player are in no way connected to his limited game time. Sorry. He is, was and always has been a dud. Or put another way, literally a paper tiger.
H H
Forrest will end up like Niall at the sheep, an ok player but not for Celtic, I can’t remember when he last scored or changed a game, Stokes as well, time to move the dead wood on at the end of the season.
The very idea of it may offend the purists. However, perhaps on the European scene at least, it is time for Celtic players to become streetwise. Or as Jose Mourhino once notoriously described it, ‘clever’.
In the aftermath of last week’s game, Virgil’s card was well marked when an Italian observer noted that the Dutchman liked to impose his physicality. This meant that he should have been aware that his every move would be well scrutinised.
Over the last eighteen hours or so, there has been much talk of poor, and possibly even corrupt refereeing. I have no idea how much, if any validity these allegations have.
What I do know has more than a degree of validity are the criticisms being made of the pyrotechnic numpties, for numpties they are, who indulged nothing but their own warped egos.
tom
“What I do know has more than a degree of validity are the criticisms being made of the pyrotechnic numpties, for numpties they are, who indulged nothing but their own warped egos.”
And can I add that those who say nothing or even worse protect them are just as bad. It is time to name and shame. Appeals have been futile and the damage to the club and the supporters’ reputations means nothing to them. They have forfeited any right to be Celtic fans. Go burn yourselves and give us all peace.
H H
With regards to the flares…again… Like the Club…I would plead with any true Celtic supporter to shop these morons… if you know who they are.
The arseholes are a stain on the Club’s name and need cut out.
Just read this…
” But the players have also got the club into trouble after being accused of “improper conduct” during their 1-0 Europa League defeat by Internazionale.
The improper conduct charge is sparked by a team that receives five or more cards during a game.”
So same thing applies here…
Any supporter who knows these morons…
Eh…naw…haud oan a minute…
Love it Mike :). I wonder what the ref gets for “improper conduct” or should that be for being an imposter.
H H
I think a lot of folk are being a bit harsh on Forrest,the lad has been very unlucky with injuries and that holds players back.
If we could get James Forrest truly fit, he would be massive for Celtic.
He needs a run of games, get his confidence high and break the mental barrier that his injuries are over.
Good luck James, I’m fully behind you pal HH!
Taxi for Forrest , Celtic are moving on and he ain’t gonna be on the bus. Offload home to Bolton for a couple of million Lennon will pay that for his pet winger.
Agree,Monti.
Serious injuries have held him back.Many forget
when he was flying,he was a match-winner in many games.
Love to see,Wee Jamesie,get back to his best,and shut a few people up.
Aye Holy sea,
Seems to be open season on James Forrest, A treble at stake and all they can do is criticise a player who is trying to get his career on track?
James Forrest will play a part in delivering silverware, the guy needs a bit of good luck holy sea!
P.L. should get UEFA to investigate this F….Slovak because it wasn’t just bad referee oh no, but if ever I saw a suspiciously bent ref then he is it. To me Van Djik was the most important man in the team last night and for that reason I believe he was targeted.
The biggest joke of the night was when the clown of a referee BOOKED Gordon for timewasting. You couldn’t make it up.
Ref was like a peacock, he was craving the limelight.
I’m surprised he didn’t stop the game and take a sefie of himself. Something bit dodgy about it all.
Well done ronny. Your playing the celtic way. HAIL HAIL
Frankie
Couldn’t agree more. I’m sure the ref had a visit to his hotel room from two young women last night who gave his whistle a good blow, paid for by italian businessmen. This corruption has been going on for decades. Guidetti needs to give up the diving as it’s embarrassing. I think if Griffiths was on the field his speed would have caused problems for their centrebacks as GMS and Armstrong did on occassion.
Looking forward to beating Aberdeen and the continued improvement in the team. Big Nir is a revelation with his passing.
I love going to Celtic Park and listinging to the GB! They are now a total embarassment to our club! PETER BAN THEM NOW!
Our reutation is shocking now
” our reputation is shocking now “?
No it isn’t, but I do admit that the flares need to stop!
Is Franco Baresi, Italian for Deadhead 67 ?
and you know it was someone from the GB who lit the flare?
My understanding is that the moron who lit the flare was with 3 or 4 others and not part of the GB. I may be wrong, but I’ll wait until the evidence is produced before finding anyone guilty.