Kasper Schmeichel was causing quite the stir when he was playing for Celtic this season, and that hasn’t stopped now that he is injured.
All season long, many Celtic supporters have felt that Schmeichel has been carrying a shoulder issue from last season, hence his mistakes, and that then became a reality in March.
And on Sunday, as Celtic were beating St Mirren in the Scottish Cup semi-final, Schmeichel posted a picture of himself next to the Premier League trophy at the Etihad ahead of a crunch title clash between Manchester City and Arsenal.
That led to fan backlash, including the Open Goal panel calling it ‘disgusting’, and how he should have been at Hampden supporting his Celtic teammates.
But Ross McCormack, who played with Schmeichel at Leeds United during the early part of his career, defended the injured keeper.
McCormack: “I know, but that picture is supposed to be an old picture, and he wasn’t at the game.”
Paul Slane: “If it’s an old picture, then you can’t say anything about that.”
Si Ferry: “So, he wasn’t at the game?”
McCormack: “Apparently not. That was an old picture, and people have just run with the narrative just to batter him. See if he was at the game, then charge it on.”
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On the one hand, Schmeichel won’t play for Celtic again. He is out for a year and might not even don the gloves again.
But on the other hand, the Denmark international is still employed and paid by Celtic. You even have Julian Araujo still watching Celtic games, as he did at the weekend from Mexico City.
Either way, the Celtic fans on Open Goal – Paul Slane and Si Ferry – weren’t afraid to call out Schmeichel for not attending the weekend’s showpiece event.
You even had Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday, who is a Rangers fan, adding that it’s ‘not right’, and ‘something has to get done.’
Either way, Schmeichel’s career at Celtic is ending with a dark cloud, whether you think it’s right or wrong.
While McCormack questioned when that picture Schmeichel posted on Instagram was taken, he did make it clear that if he did attend that Manchester City-Arsenal game, then he deserves all the stick he is getting.
Paul Slane: “You wanted Schmeichel to stay in.”
Si Ferry: “What about him at the Manchester City game?!”
Slane: “F___ing disgrace. Disgusting that.”
Andy Halliday: “That’s not right. Something has to get done about that.”
Ferry: “Surely, he isn’t getting paid.”
McCormack: “Was he actually at the game? Or was that an old picture? Let’s play devil’s advocate here.”
Ferry: “He always sticks up for Kasper.”
Slane: “I know he is your mate. But his attitude has been disgusting.”
McCormack: “I know, but that picture is supposed to be an old picture, and he wasn’t at the game.”
Slane: “If it’s an old picture, then you can’t say anything about that.”
Ferry: “So, he wasn’t at the game?”
McCormack: “Apparently not. That was an old picture, and people have just run with the narrative just to batter him. See if he was at the game, then charge it on.”
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