Following his summer departure, a former Celtic winger has opened up about his perspective on recent events.
Rangers clinched a hard-earned yet unconvincing 1-0 win against Premiership rivals Hibs over the weekend. The winning goal, a stunner by Tom Lawrence, sealed the three points for the home team. However, much credit also goes to goalkeeper Jack Butland, who thwarted Mykola Kuharevich’s penalty attempt with a superb save just before halftime.
Despite the victory, the Light Blues struggled to hit their stride and endured considerable pressure from David Gray’s squad, especially in the second half. Many Rangers supporters expressed disappointment over the team’s lackluster performance, with loanee Vaclav Cerny singled out for criticism. Cerny’s visible frustration towards fans during the match, as captured by Sky Sports cameras, drew scrutiny. Commentator Neil McCann remarked on Cerny’s animated response to supporters’ discontent, emphasizing the need for the winger to maintain composure on the field.
After a lackluster showing, Cerny was substituted in the 70th minute. Former Rangers player turned pundit Cammy Bell advised Cerny to remain unfazed by fan criticism and remain focused during matches. Addressing the incident, Bell stressed the importance of handling fan expectations and pressure at a high-profile club like Rangers.
In a bid to quell concerns about Cerny’s relationship with the fans, manager Clement emphasized the need for the winger to concentrate on the game amidst emotional moments. Clement acknowledged the mutual admiration between Cerny and the supporters, reassuring that their connection remained strong. He highlighted the importance of enhancing Cerny’s performance levels to meet the demanding schedule and expectations at Rangers.
Sead Haksabanovic, the former Celtic winger, made a bold move last summer by posting a poignant message on social media, leading to his departure from Parkhead. In the post, he hinted at feeling undervalued and not in the right place, signaling the end of his time under Brendan Rodgers.
Shortly after the post, the 25-year-old found refuge at Stoke City on loan before permanently departing Celtic for Swedish champions Malmo. Speaking before Malmo’s Europa League loss to Rangers, Haksabanovic expressed no regrets about the social media incident, emphasizing that it was a necessary step for his career progression.
He explained that while he doesn’t want to delve into specifics, he felt he wasn’t treated on par with others at Celtic, prompting him to prioritize his well-being. Although acknowledging the fans’ disappointment, he defended his actions as a means of self-preservation, asserting his need for respect and appreciation within the club.
