Latest news with #CharlieMulgrew
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
'Rangers fans can be assured that Russell is a guy who leaves no stone unturned': Charlie Mulgrew hails thorough approach of his former Scotland team-mate
The searing heat in the Balearics contrasted with the lukewarm reception for the breaking news back in Scotland. For all we know, Russell Martin's imminent appointment as manager might well have satisfied a silent majority of Rangers supporters. However, most of those who preferred to air their strident views in public weren't willing to give the former Southampton boss the benefit of the doubt. Two weeks after his unveiling, the 39-year-old's reputation as a thoughtful and progressive football coach evidently still hasn't cut the ice with all the light blue legions. Those who would rather have seen a more exotic or experienced name given the nod appear disinclined to look beyond Saints' disastrous return to the Premier League under Martin's stewardship last season. The brand of possession-based football he plays has been used as a stick to beat him with. Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart is confident Martin can help steady the ship and win trophies From the other side of the Old Firm divide, Charlie Mulgrew might seem like an unlikely source of support for the new man at Ibrox. But the testimony of a former Scotland team-mate is compelling. 'I actually met him in Palma the day before he took the job,' said the former Celtic defender. I'm sitting in a coffee shop and he came walking in. He was flying back to take the job. 'Having met the guy and spent time with him, I know he leaves no stone unturned. He's absolutely brilliant at his job. 'I know he sticks to his style and how he sees the game. I've always been impressed by that. 'He tried to sign me when he was at MK Dons as well, so I got an insight into how he wants to play. 'He was thorough. As a player that he was looking to sign, he sent me a profile on how he saw me playing — a PowerPoint presentation of what he saw and what I could bring to his team. 'It was so impressive. I'd never been sent that before. Knowing him, I think he's a great appointment for Rangers.' Before he's so much as taken charge of a single training session, Martin stands accused — by some — of advocating a style of football which is too easily countered. Mulgrew believes that's a gross misrepresentation of the reality. 'No matter what happens, Celtic and Rangers need to be possession- based, because that's what the fans demand,' he said. 'They can't be at home at Ibrox and let Motherwell have 60-per- cent possession. The place would be booing. 'They're going to have possession. If you've got possession, you've got more chance of scoring a goal. The tricky bit for Celtic and Rangers has always been the final third. You need to have killers in that final third. I'm sure he'll know that.' Martin will also appreciate that certain fans will view him with scepticism purely on the basis that he's Russell Martin. A decent defender who rang every last drop out of his professional career is always going to be a hard sell to those more concerned with style than substance. 'Listen, I'm not surprised because I know the mentality up here at Celtic and Rangers,' said Mulgrew. 'There's a high standard and expectation in the names that were mentioned for the Rangers job. 'Jose Mourinho was mentioned at one stage and Carlo Ancelotti's boy [Davide], who has coached at Real Madrid and has quite a high stock as well. 'When you've not looked too much into Russell Martin, on the surface it can maybe disappoint people. But having been down to see him, having spent time with him, having played with him, I don't see it like that.' Martin's impending joust with former Norwich team-mate and now Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou makes for an intriguing opening day of the new Premiership season. Hearts are also under new management in Derek McInnes. On the opening Monday, they face an Aberdeen side still basking in Scottish Cup glory. Champions Celtic, who host St Mirren the previous day, will start as strong favourites to retain their crown. There remains an air of invincibility, however, with the four league defeats suffered by Brendan Rodgers' side last season all coming after the turn of the year. With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps losing the cup final to Aberdeen at Hampden wasn't quite such a seismic shock. While his former club still enjoyed a successful season by claiming the League Cup on top of the Premiership crown, Mulgrew feels that one major disappointment will have festered. 'I don't think anybody gave Aberdeen a prayer in the game,' he said. 'It just shows you, though, what can happen if you don't turn up and show the right attitude. First and foremost, you need to show up and compete. 'I'm sure that'll keep them on their toes this year. Brendan Rodgers, being the competitive winner that he is, will be fuming with the fact he never won the Treble, having come so close. It was Rodgers' first final he'd been beaten in. So, every team needs that wee edge.' With Jota sidelined for the foreseeable future and the void left by Kyogo Furuhashi still to be filled, Rodgers needs to get new faces in the door. Mulgrew contends that the much-anticipated return of Kieran Tierney is pretty much the perfect starting point. 'It's brilliant,' he said. 'He's somebody who's probably coming into their prime in a few years. Celtic are lucky to have him back. He's a brilliant, brilliant player. There are maybe question marks over injuries, but I'm sure they'll manage him well in that way.' Tierney's been away from the madhouse for six years, but the changes in Scotland's top tier in the past six weeks have been bewildering enough. There are two new additions to the top flight in Falkirk and Livingston and new faces at the helm at Rangers, Motherwell, Hearts, Dundee and Kilmarnock. Barring something extra-ordinary, the title will be a two-horse race as usual, although Mulgrew senses it might not quite be the canter most are expecting. 'It's going to be interesting to see how Rangers go this year,' he said. 'Celtic have been dominating for so long. Now Rangers have a new manager, Celtic will obviously have a bit of a wariness about what that's going to bring. 'Celtic need that challenge. They're going to be wary of that. So, it's interesting and exciting.' Charlie Mulgrew appeared courtesy of William Hill and the Warm-Up, SPFL Title Sponsor.
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Celtic will have 'one eye on Rangers' new manager' in title defence
Ex-Celtic ace Charlie Mulgrew reckons the Hoops will be keeping tabs on Rangers following the managerial shake-up at Ibrox. With the Gers' new American ownership bringing in Kevin Thelwell as sporting director and Russell Martin as head coach, fans are buzzing about potential squad enhancements after promises of investment. Martin has been charged with the hefty task of disrupting Celtic's stranglehold on Scottish football, which has seen them clinch 13 out of the last 14 titles and narrowly miss out on a sixth treble in nine seasons due to a Scottish Cup shoot-out loss to Aberdeen. Speaking after Celtic were handed a William Hill Premiership opener at home to St Mirren, Mulgrew said: "I'm sure Brendan Rodgers will be looking at signings and looking first and foremost to get the players in the building to stay and push on next year. "I think that cup final will leave a bit of a taste in their mouth and they'll be thinking when they get back at it. "It's a disappointing end to the season, although it was a great season when you look back. "It's hard to criticise when you look at how good the Champions League campaign was, the league campaign. "Trebles have become such a regular thing, thanks to Brendan Rodgers and the way Celtic have been recently. "But also, there will be one eye on Rangers' new manager and what he's going to bring. "They'll know he's a good manager and good ideas in the game and he'll be looking to get Rangers back on track. "You try and focus on yourself but there's no doubt about it. One eye is on... especially the fact they've got a new manager, so you don't know what he's going to bring. "You don't know, although they'll have an idea of his last teams and what they've done, but you don't know what kind of reaction he'll get from the players. "You imagine the reaction because he's new at the start and he's obviously a good pedigree, so that'll be interesting." :: Charlie Mulgrew appeared courtesy of William Hill and the Warm-Up, SPFL title sponsor.
STV News
7 hours ago
- Sport
- STV News
Charlie Mulgrew: Celtic will have ‘one eye' on Rangers under new boss Martin
Former Celtic player Charlie Mulgrew believes the champions 'will have one eye on Rangers' given the change in management at Ibrox. The completion of an American-led takeover resulted in the arrival of sporting director Kevin Thelwell and head coach Russell Martin, and Rangers fans are eagerly awaiting new players following promise of investment in the squad. Martin is the latest man to be tasked with ending Celtic's domestic dominance, which has seen them win 13 of the last 14 titles and come within a Scottish Cup shoot-out against Aberdeen of winning a sixth treble in nine seasons. Speaking after Celtic were handed a William Hill Premiership opener at home to St Mirren, Mulgrew said: 'I'm sure Brendan Rodgers will be looking at signings and looking first and foremost to get the players in the building to stay and push on next year. 'I think that cup final will leave a bit of a taste in their mouth and they'll be thinking when they get back at it. 'It's a disappointing end to the season, although it was a great season when you look back. 'It's hard to criticise when you look at how good the Champions League campaign was, the league campaign. 'Trebles have become such a regular thing, thanks to Brendan Rodgers and the way Celtic have been recently. 'But also, there will be one eye on Rangers' new manager and what he's going to bring. 'They'll know he's a good manager and good ideas in the game and he'll be looking to get Rangers back on track. 'You try and focus on yourself but there's no doubt about it. One eye is on… especially the fact they've got a new manager, so you don't know what he's going to bring. 'You don't know, although they'll have an idea of his last teams and what they've done, but you don't know what kind of reaction he'll get from the players. 'You imagine the reaction because he's new at the start and he's obviously a good pedigree, so that'll be interesting.' Charlie Mulgrew appeared courtesy of William Hill and the Warm-Up, SPFL title sponsor. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cup final loss will leave 'bitter taste' for Celtic
Charlie Mulgrew believes defending champions Celtic will be fired up for the start of the next campaign after missing out on a treble last begin their quest for a fifth successive Premiership title at home to St Mirren on 3 second league match is away to Aberdeen, who prevailed on penalties in May's Scottish Cup final to deny Celtic a domestic clean sweep."I think the cup final will leave a bitter taste and they'll be thinking 'we need to get back at it'," said Mulgrew, who played for Celtic between 2010-16, winning seven trophies."When you look back it's hard to criticise last season, with how well they did in the Champions League, but trebles have become such a regular thing."Celtic have won all three main prizes on eight occasions, most recently in the 2022-2023 39, reckons the return of Scotland defender Kieran Tierney is "massive", while suggesting winger Nicolas Kuhn "could probably be replaced" and expects to see more new arrivals in all areas of the pitch."Brendan Rodgers will looking at all positions to keep everyone on their toes," he said."I think another centre-back is one of the main things they'll be looking at. You'd imagine a winger or two will come in."Rodgers is entering the last year of his contract in what is the manager's second spell at Celtic Park but Mulgrew does not think there is any rush to agree new terms."We'll have to wait and see," he said. "Maybe just honour the contract and see where that takes the club and where everybody sits. Then everybody can decide."
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
How can Aberdeen stop Celtic and win Scottish Cup?
Scottish Cup final: Aberdeen v CelticVenue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Saturday, 24 May Time: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Scotland, listen on BBC Radio Scotland, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app Nineteen goals against, four straight defeats, no victories in the fixture since recent record against Celtic is not encouraging for Dons fans heading to Hampden for Saturday's Scottish Cup final, some of them having travelled course, there's context. Two of those goals against came in a 2-2 draw between the sides at Celtic Park and it's not as if many Scottish sides can boast a strong record against the Scottish Premiership beat Celtic twice this season, but that was after no wins in derbies at all in the previous campaign while Hibernian and St Johnstone were the only other domestic teams to pick up three points against Brendan Rodgers' side this how can Jimmy Thelin's side defy the odds and win their first trophy of any kind since 2014 and their first Scottish Cup since 1990? 'Season really hinges on cup final' "The season really hinges on what happens next week in the Scottish Cup final," said Sportscene pundit and former Scotland player Michael Stewart when reviewing Aberdeen's final league game of the season at Dundee United and their campaign in general.A few days prior, former Pittodrie and Celtic Park defender Charlie Mulgrew, commenting after Aberdeen's 5-1 home loss to Celtic, said: "Their form from November is bottom of the league form. They need to produce a performance at least to end the season on some sort of a high."If they don't do that, it's looking like not a good season for Aberdeen all of a sudden."Sunday's 2-1 loss was a fourth defeat in a row for Thelin's men, with their last win of any kind coming in their 2-1 Scottish Cup semi-final victory in extra time over last win over 90 minutes came on 26 April, 1-0 at home to not great reading. But perhaps that win holds the key to how Aberdeen can spring a finished third in the Premiership and were the league's most improved side after struggling at the foot of the table as recently as restricted their high-flying opponents, closed down space and did not allow danger men like Martin Boyle to have much of an influence. Indeed, there were no shots on target from the visitors and the Dons bested David Gray's side in possession and shots overall, with Kevin Nisbet's delicious volley settling the was that restricting of the opponent that seemed to give Thelin's side the confidence and platform to get the win they desperately craved as they tried to beat Hibs to a restriction approach will need to be put on Celtic if Aberdeen are to stand any Aberdeen's past four losses to Celtic, they have lost three of them by a margin of four goals or more and have been three behind by half-time in two of them. Time for a change of system? Few Premiership sides have excelled defensively this season and Aberdeen are not one of them. Only the league's top three and Hearts finished the campaign with a positive goal must be a frustration for those Dons fans is that after 10 league games, Aberdeen were 20 goals for and nine against in the league. By the end of game 38, it was 48 for and 61 Aberdeen last kept a clean sheet, they have lost 12 goals, an average of three per game. Simply speaking, they need to find a way to stop the Hibs and Rangers may offer guidance. Hibs went with a back three in their February 2-1 win over Celtic at Easter Road, scoring twice in the first was a similar story the following month as Rangers led by two at the break at Celtic Park and went on to win were very much on the front foot against Celtic while Rangers went for quite a counter-attacking may seem unlikely Aberdeen will break from their tried and tested back four for such an important game but perhaps it's fair to say their tried and tested system is not working and it's time to be the system, they must try and stay in the game for as long as possible. Recently, at Ibrox, Aberdeen gave as good as they got for 55 minutes but then lost four goals. Back on Boxing Day, they shipped the same amount of goals away at Kilmarnock, with three coming in the second Aberdeen fall behind on Saturday, it's unlikely Celtic will take the foot off the gas. What the manager says It should not be forgotten that Thelin and Aberdeen have had some success against Celtic this 2-2 draw in October was quite a remarkable result. The Dons trailed 2-0 at the break and Thelin took action with two of his replacements, Ester Sokler, got Aberdeen back into the game and captain Graeme Shinnie - played in his more familiar midfield role instead of his current left-back berth - struck a deflected equaliser. Aberdeen then showed steel and some last-ditch defending to secure a match will be the first final of Thelin's managerial career and he said on Wednesday: "We have a clear plan of what we're going to do."I think the Scottish Cup has a really big history, it's a big thing, and you can feel it already around the club and around the country. We are really excited for this moment, everyone."Win on Saturday and the moment will not only cover the multitude of Aberdeen's recent struggles but give Thelin and his players belief that the three-year project he has referred to throughout his debut season is on track.
