John Guidetti ‘should focus on scoring goals’

John Guidetti is targeting a hat-trick against Rangers but hasn't scored in six league matches. Picture: SNS

The Swedish striker said he “fancied” himself to grab a hat-trick when the Hoops take on their fierce Glaswegian rivals in next month’s League Cup semi-final.

But MacLeod reckons the 22-year-old on-loan Manchester City forward needs to start finding the net before he starts shouting his mouth off.

Guidetti has gone six domestic games without a goal and, speaking at the launch of former Rangers Director of Communications Jim Traynor’s new PR firm Level 5, MacLeod said: “I think he should just concentrate on getting into the team and scoring goals, never mind targeting Rangers to score a hat-trick.

“There have been a million players in the past and will be in the future who would want to score a hat-trick in an Old Firm game.

“But it is a big statement to come out with and if it doesn’t happen then it’s not the best statement to come away with.”

The teams meet at Hampden on February 1 in their first meeting for three and a half years.

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Rangers continue to be dragged down by off-the-field events but Celtic have failed to hit a consistent run of form either.

And MacLeod reckons the upcoming derby clash could still be difficult to call, even with Rangers a division below the Parkhead side.

The 56-year-old - who was Wim Jansen’s number two when Celtic won the 1998 title to stop their Ibrox foes clinching 10-in-a-row - said: “You would never put any money on these two when they meet because you never know what’s going to happen in an Old Firm game.

“It doesn’t matter who is the team on form. Celtic are in the top league. They have played so well in some games but have been so ordinary in others.

“Celtic are so inconsistent. They have got a battle on for the league right now so this is a massive game right now.

“The players are all taking about winning a treble so this is a big game and they will need to be up for it.”

But MacLeod, who won five titles as a Parkhead player, does not believe defeat at Hampden would prove to be a fatal blow to Ronny Deila’s Celtic reign.

The Norwegian has had a difficult start to life in Glasgow, with his side currently four points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Aberdeen.

“It would be tough for him,” said MacLeod when asked if Deila could survive an upset in his first Old Firm test. “But first and foremost, he’s got to go and win the league.

“Celtic don’t have a great record in the cups over the last three years and have been knocked out a lot of them by smaller sides.

“Now they are playing Rangers and it’s a massive game. But because Rangers are in the lower leagues Celtic fans wouldn’t accept defeat.

“But I don’t think they would be calling for his head. The most important thing is to win the championship.”

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