McGeady unsympathetic over Rangers backlog

Celtic winger Aiden McGeady has voiced his opposition to extending the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season to help ease the burden on rivals Rangers.

The Ibrox club’s pursuit of four trophies has left them facing a backlog of fixtures, with the Scottish Premier League yet to shoehorn outstanding matches against St Mirren and Motherwell into the calendar.

Rangers could yet request an extension to the campaign if they overcome Fiorentina to reach the UEFA Cup final but McGeady sees no reason why special dispensation should be granted.

“I wouldn’t be too keen on that to be honest with you,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the SPL’s fault but I don‘t think the fact so many games have been called off is a reason for the season to go on.

“Obviously, Rangers have got an awful lot of games but you have to squeeze them in over a short space of time.”

Celtic were forced to play an Old Firm fixture three days after booking their place in the 2003 UEFA Cup final with a win over Boavista, and McGeady insisted: “The season’s the season and I don’t think they can do it any other way.”

Celtic have seven days’ rest between their win over Aberdeen and Sunday’s Old Firm derby, while Rangers face the visit of Fiorentina on Thursday following an epic Scottish Cup semi-final victory over St Johnstone, which was decided by a penalty shoot-out on Sunday.

“I think the break will help us,” admitted McGeady.

“Rangers have an awful lot of games to be played. We’d like to be in their position, still being in all competitions, but we’re not and we only have the league to concentrate on.

“I think the fact they’ve got so many games and such a short period of time to play them all could hinder Rangers.

“Also, they have injuries and suspensions so hopefully things like that can work in our favour.”

Sunday’s derby will provide McGeady with the opportunity to rekindle his rivalry with Rangers striker Nacho Novo.

The pair clashed at the full-time whistle at Celtic Park last week before Novo later claimed he had the Hoops star ’in his pocket’.

McGeady retaliated when picking up SPFA awards for Player and Young Player of the Year on Sunday night, quipping: “I managed to climb out of Nacho’s pocket twice to win!”

He added: “I just go out and play football and do the talking on the pitch.

“It was just a bit of banter, one of those things in football. He made a comment earlier in the week and I thought I’d say something back. I didn’t think he would come out and say something like that to the press.

“It’s no big deal and hopefully he took it in good humour.

“Players talk on the pitch – it’s just one of those things that are part and parcel of football.”

That post-match melee resulted in Gary Caldwell and David Weir earning one-match bans for fighting, while Barry Ferguson and Stephen McManus were also involved in the tussle.

McGeady added: “There’s so much passion involved.

“It’s the mentality the players have got that we want to win so badly we won’t stop at anything really.

“It was surprising to see everyone involved knowing they are all Scotland team-mates but it’s just what happens in football and you can be best mates after the game as well.”

Celtic lost the championship to Rangers on the last day of the season in 2005, and McGeady said: “It would be hard to see that anything could ever compensate for that.

“But it would be nice to win this title and it would probably be the sweetest one yet.”