MALMO GOALKEEPR JOHAN Wiland has launched an extraordinary attack on Celtic, accusing them of acting like ‘pigs’ and ‘children’ during last night’s Champions League play-off first leg.
The Scottish Premier League champions won the game 3-2 but their hopes of reaching the lucrative group stages were dealt a blow by Jo Inge Berget’s injury-time goal in Glasgow.
Malmo will be confident of overturning the deficit next Tuesday when the sides meet for the return leg but Wiland, who conceded twice inside the opening 10 minutes on Wednesday, was far from impressed by Celtic’s tactics.
“They are pigs, all of them, that’s the way it is,” Wiland told Swedish newspaper Kvallsposten after the game. “You just have to try to stay cool and do what we have to do on the pitch. Leigh Griffiths, well, I don’t know what to say, he behaved like a child, tugging shirts all the time.”
Griffiths scored twice at Park Head to give Ronny Delia’s side a commanding lead, although Inge Berget’s goal has tipped the balance back in the opposite direction.
Wiland singled Griffiths out but he wasn’t the only one to speak publicly about Celtic’s approach. Defender Rasmus Bengtsson joined in too.
“There were some players who talked a lot. You probably know who I mean,” he said.
“They have a captain (Scott Brown) and a few others who like to talk. But that’s the way it is at this level.
“One player who came on (Nadir Ciftci) was not particularly nice. The first thing he wanted to do when he came on was to talk. He had more focus on that than his performance.
“And I don’t think it was to their advantage that they were running around focusing on other things.”
Next week could be a little juicy.
He’s been a huge plus for the Farrell team as he’s just bossed what was starting to become a problem position for Ireland.
Takes care of the basics first, and he’s starting to reveal more to his game now week on week at every level, influencing huge games.
I think the lad has a massive ceiling.
@Patrick Doherty: and a brilliant mix of writing and analysis as always from Murray Kinsella.
I completely agree the way he played last week against Munster was top class. Looked dangerous every time he had the ball in hand. Rock solid under the high ball and looking to attack at every opportunity
Where I have the difficulty with his play is over the five games for Ireland he offered absolutely nothing whatsoever in attack. Even when we were dominant against the English. He looked easy to read with ball in hand.
Before I get lambasted and abused here I believe it must be the different coaching structures between Ireland and Leinster
@Bgkph: he’s 24 and learning every week.
This is the role leinster wanted for carbury so it’s no surprise they are working with Keenan to do the same. Ireland don’t seem to want their 15 to play make so your not going to see this too much for Ireland
@Bgkph: it’s a much much higher level than any PR014 or HC games. It’s what Ronan O Gara keeps saying. Such a chasm between the levels
He’s a good solid player who has already improved hugely since he got his first cap. I’m not sure if he has as much X factor in attack that larmour and stockdale have. The experiment with them at full back failed though and IMO a safe pair of hands which he has , is the most important thing a full back should have…. hopefully the attacking threat can be worked on and will continue to improve…
This guy is a massive credit to the 7s system. He’s so solid, does all the basics so well and rarely makes a mistake. He’s going to get better and better.
He needs to work on his passing and decision making. He is already an improvement on Kearney but like Kearney he takes the ball into contact. Also he needs to fix his man before passing as it cost Lowe a try against France
@Patrick O Connell: the videos show him passing or offloading each time and continuing the movement. Doesn’t really correlate to your point about him going into contact
@Patrick O Connell: every time he takes it into contact he seems to make yards. Fella wriggles out of every tackle