Ryan Kent: Rangers winger among Ibrox trio who ‘scared’ Van Bronckhorst v Celtic – pundit
Noel Whelan has claimed Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be “scared” by the performances of his senior Rangers stars against Celtic.
The former Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted Ryan Kent, James Tavernier and Borna Barisic failed to show anything that suggested they could turn the game around at Parkhead.
The Light Blues were blown away in the opening 45 minutes on Wednesday (2 February), with Barisic hooked at halftime.
The result means Celtic have leapfrogged Van Bronckhorst’s men into top spot of the Premiership table.
Whelan suggested the performances from Rangers’ senior stars will have been of most concern to the Ibrox boss.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I think they maybe went into it with less belief and I think that showed.
“The way Celtic started, they could not compete with that pace, that aggressive nature and the passion. It felt like they were watching the ball bypass them plenty of times.
“It was one-touch, two-touch passing and I think Celtic drained the confidence out of them. They’ll have probably come into it lacking in confidence after the 3-3 draw (v Ross County).
“At the same time, you’ve got to stand up as men, you’ve got to fight, you’ve got to turn something around. It felt like the game was bypassing them.
“Celtic were just draining them of energy the way they went about their business. It probably showed that little bit of fragility within their side.
“When you look and talk about Tavernier, Kent, Barisic, not one of them could change the process of that game and the way it was going. That will be what scared Giovanni van Bronckhorst the most.
“These leaders and these captains out there, these established professionals, couldn’t change anything that was going on about that game.
“They couldn’t stop the flow of Celtic and you need big players out there to be able to do that.”
Rangers will look to bounce back against Hearts on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Celtic face Motherwell on the same day.
In other news, Steven Davis replacement may already be at Ibrox after “very exciting” Rangers news.