Source: Team_Talk
Strach: Media made a meal of derby
The stalemate allowed champions Celtic to maintain their two-point lead over Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.[LNB]But it also initiated a week of soul-searching in Scottish football as former players, managers, pundits and fans dissected the match, mostly unfavourably.[LNB]However Celtic boss Strachan, whose side travel to Motherwell on Sunday, defended the game, claiming the absence of a loser led to the match being unduly lambasted.[LNB]"There's a food for the media after the game and usually the food is the losing team or manager," he said. "Last week, there was no losing food for you all so you decided to take the game then.[LNB]"And the game at Ibrox (earlier in the season) was actually worse than that game in terms of passing and movement, without a doubt.[LNB]"It was a million times worse but there was a loser and a winner and that - and a terrific goal - was the difference.[LNB]"I'm sure you guys know that in the two games - because I know you study the game well - that there were only six chances.[LNB]"There were three in the first game and three in last week's game.[LNB]"So it wasn't any different but, because there wasn't a loser, the game had to be the loser.[LNB]"When you are winning with a lot of points then people are bored with it; when it is neck and neck, it is the standard of football.[LNB]"I can't deal with what anybody thinks; I just know it is a good championship at the moment."[LNB]Celtic defender Gary Caldwell insists he has taken no heed of the stick which last Sunday's game attracted.[LNB]"If you read the criticism, you would get depressed so we tend not to do that," he said.[LNB]"There are lots of bad games all over the world every week and it can be difficult at times to produce exciting football that everyone wants to see and Sunday was one of those games.[LNB]"Both teams cancelled each other out and sometimes it can be a disappointing spectacle for the fans.[LNB]"But, overall, the game is going forward in Scotland there are some good players here."[LNB]Strachan does not believe the heavily-sanded Fir Park pitch will necessarily effect the quality of Sunday's game.[LNB]The Hoops boss pointed to the exciting goalless draw in the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final against Dundee United, which the Parkhead club won after a penalty shootout, as evidence perfect surfaces do not always facilitate good games.[LNB]He said: "Hampden wasn't conducive (to good football) and you saw a classic between Dundee United and Celtic.[LNB]"The pitch was perfect last Sunday and the pitch was perfect at St Mirren on Thursday when they played Motherwell, and they weren't two classic games.[LNB]"You never know when a good game is coming up.[LNB]"We can't tell you how it's going to go but what you will have is two teams trying to win the game."[LNB][LNB] Strachan to be Manager of Celtic start of 09/10 Season. Click here to bet.[LNB]
