Premier League icon Shay Given is openly rooting for a Rangers slip in their neck-and-neck title battle with Celtic, fully aware that his comments might ruffle some feathers among fans.
With a storied career spanning 450 games in England’s top tier, Given’s prowess as a goalkeeper is undeniable. His time at Newcastle, Blackburn, Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Stoke City saw him notch 113 clean sheets, securing his place as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats, with only 17 goalkeepers having reached the century mark in clean sheets.
Given’s journey began at the Celtic youth setup, catching Kenny Dalglish’s eye and leading to a move to Blackburn. It’s clear his Celtic roots run deep, as reflected in his recent remarks.
With Rangers currently leading the pack in the Premiership by a slender two points over Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic, both teams are also contending in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals this weekend. However, the main focus remains on the league title. Given, discussing the title race, expressed his desire for a Rangers hiccup, anticipating the reaction it would provoke among their fans. Speaking to Football Focus, he commented on the excitement of the title race from a neutral perspective, noting the dominance of Celtic in recent years and the closeness of the current competition. He confessed his hope for a Celtic comeback under Brendan Rodgers in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the season.
