Graeme Souness faced heat on live television for his strong critique of Callum McGregor, whom he referred to as ‘the Celtic captain’, inciting discontent among fans of the green-and-white side of Glasgow. During the discussion of Germany’s second goal in their 5-1 victory over Scotland, Souness singled out McGregor for attempting to intercept the ball and failing to defend effectively.

Some Celtic supporters condemned Souness for what they perceived as a swipe at the Scottish champions during the opening night of the Euros. One listener even phoned talkSPORT to challenge the former Rangers manager over his choice of words. Souness, however, clarified that his use of ‘the Celtic captain’ stemmed from a momentary lapse in memory, emphasizing that he held no ill intent.

Explaining his criticism of McGregor’s play, Souness highlighted two instances where the midfielder’s attempt to win the ball back left the team vulnerable. Despite acknowledging McGregor’s talent, Souness stressed the importance of staying focused on defensive responsibilities.

In response to the backlash, Souness admitted, “I couldn’t remember his name, but I knew he was a good little football player.” He reiterated that any negative interpretation of his remarks was unintentional, reiterating that his focus was solely on the player’s performance during the match.

In his analysis on Friday night, Souness mentioned McGregor’s challenges during the goal build-up, emphasizing the need for stronger defensive positioning to avoid conceding opportunities.