You probably didn’t need reminding, but Chris Sutton and Robbie Savage don’t exactly see eye to eye where Celtic are concerned.
The former Bhoys striker and the ex-‘Strictly Come Dancing’ contestant had a debate earlier this week on the quality of the Scottish champions, ahead of their 1-1 draw with Manchester City in the Champions League.
Savage said, among other things, that the current Celtic squad wouldn’t be good enough to play in the English Premier League, and they were only good enough for the Championship.
Chris Sutton is fast becoming one of the most watchable football pundits around. https://t.co/wrNYTFRmS4
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) December 9, 2016
The BT Sport pundit wouldn’t be the first to hold such a view, but it was arguably made redundant by his apparent lack of knowledge on Celtic and Scottish football.
Savage appeared to have no idea that Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, currently linked with moves to Liverpool and Manchester United, played for Celtic between 2013 and 2015.
On top of that, he doubted any players had come south from Scotland to excel in the Premier League in recent years.
He also claimed he’d be able to get a game for Celtic, despite retiring five years ago.
“How is Celtic against Man City the Battle of Britain? It’s not, mate,” Savage said.
“The Battle of Britain, really, is who’s going to win the Premier League. It’s not Celtic! It’s not really the Battle of Britain, let’s be fair… Celtic would be a Championship side, if that.”
However, Sutton, armed with a cohesive argument and some handy facts, arguably won the debate.
Part two went along similar lines, and once again Sutton came out with some good lines about his BT colleague.
Sutton said Savage is now more unpopular than Joey Barton in Scotland after his opinions on Celtic, quite the achievement given Barton’s brief, controversial spell with Rangers.
“I got hundreds of tweets, all slaughtering Robbie Savage,” Sutton said, before listing some of the players who arrived in English football from Scotland and excelled.
“What an idiot.”
"He's more unpopular in Scotland than Joey Barton." – @chris_sutton73 has a prize for @RobbieSavage8. #BTSportScore https://t.co/JrVY6LL5vP
— eir Sport (@eirSport) December 10, 2016
Savage was given the chance to respond later on BT Sport Score, but, once again, found himself outwitted by Sutton.
“Well, recently this is what Robbie said,” Sutton began
“He said that Manchester City need a defender, which one would you have Robbie? Robbie said Virgil van Dijk. Where did he play, Robbie? Up at Celtic!”
Savage replied that the Scottish champions were merely a “stop-gap” before he moved onto better things, but had, once again lost the debate.
The @celticfc and Scotland debate continues between Savage and Sutton! #BTSportScore https://t.co/q7tpy1SlK3
— eir Sport (@eirSport) December 10, 2016
When you come at the king, Savage, you best not miss.
Catch up with this week’s episode of Football Friday Live
