McGeady opposed to extension for Rangers

Published on Monday 21 April 2008 23:03

THE mind games ahead of the potentially decisive final Old Firm fixture of the season on Sunday kicked off in earnest yesterday when Celtic winger Aiden McGeady claimed there is no justification for the SPL season to be extended to accommodate Rangers' outstanding fixtures.

McGeady helped Celtic climb back to the top of the table with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen on Saturday which put them two points clear of Rangers, who now have three games in hand as a dramatic title race unfolds.

The Ibrox club's commitments in both the Uefa Cup and Scottish Cup have delayed rescheduled dates being set for their away games at St Mirren and Motherwell, but Celtic have already stated their opposition to any of them being played after the final official day of the SPL campaign on 18 May.

McGeady, named both Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year by PFA Scotland on Sunday night, added his voice to the debate and insisted if the roles were reversed no consideration would be given to extending the season for Celtic.

"I wouldn't be too keen on them extending the season, to be honest," said McGeady. "I don't want to say it's the SPL's fault, the fact so many games have been called off, but I don't think there is any reason for the season to go on any longer than already scheduled.

"If it was us, we would have to squeeze all the games into a short space of time. The season is the season, I don't think you can alter it in any way."

McGeady is banking on the demands of Rangers' congested fixture schedule backfiring on Walter Smith's team and aiding Celtic to secure a third consecutive SPL championship. "Rangers have got an awful lot of games to be played," he said. "We would like to be in their position, still involved in all competitions, but I think it can hinder Rangers. Having to play so many games in such a short space of time will have an effect with injuries and suspensions, so hopefully things like that can work in our favour."

In his acceptance speech at the PFA Scotland awards dinner on Sunday, McGeady made reference to comments from Rangers striker Nacho Novo in the aftermath of last Wednesday's pulsating Old Firm match at Parkhead, which Celtic won 2-1 to re-ignite their title challenge.

"I'm just glad I managed to get out of Nacho Novo's pocket twice to collect these awards," said McGeady as a retort to Novo's admission he had taunted the Celtic winger to that effect during the game.

"It was just a bit of banter, one of those things in football," explained McGeady yesterday. "I heard his comment during the week, so I just thought I'd say something back. I didn't think he would come out and say something like that in the press. It's no big deal, though. Hopefully he took it in good humour."

McGeady accepts there is no guarantee the feuds at full-time last Wednesday, which also saw several Scottish international colleagues clashing angrily with each other and both David Weir and Gary Caldwell receiving the equivalent of red cards for violent conduct, will not be repeated on Sunday.

"There is so much passion involved in it," he said. "It's just the mentality of the players. You want to win so badly, you won't stop at anything to do so. It was quite surprising to see all of the players involved at the end of the game, knowing they are Scotland team-mates, but that's just what happens. You can still be best of mates afterwards.

"We just have to go out, play our football and try to do our talking on the pitch. It was an important psychological step forward for us to win last Wednesday's game. The fact that we hadn't even scored a goal in the four previous games against Rangers and that it was our first win against them since Walter Smith became manager meant it was a huge boost for us. It has given us confidence to take into the remaining games.

"The team that wins the league deserves to win the league. Hopefully we can keep winning our games to put pressure on Rangers. It's hard to say if anything could compensate for 2005 when we lost the league in the last few minutes of the season, but I think it would be the sweetest one yet if we win it this time."

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