Beale fires back at Morelos “abuse” after McCann “idiot” jibe

Rangers were, nearly, perfect against Hearts. That the score could easily have been approaching double figures says it all about the work rate and creativity of the side that Michael Beale put out and the performance of the whole team – it was a genuine 90 minute effort.

Front and centre to this was a rampaging Alfredo Morelos who, arguably, put in his best performance of the season and one that suggests that his heart isn’t quite somewhere else, just yet.

As always though, the talking point wasn’t about how well the Colombian played, but rather, how he celebrated after his second and Rangers third goal was confirmed as being onside – RTV and BBC pundit Neil McCann going way too far in branding him “an idiot” for running 20 yards before knee sliding towards the Hearts fans nowhere near the touchline.

🎙️ It’s press conference day ahead of Saturday’s match against Ross County.

📲 Michael Beale has arrived to speak to the media. Live updates to follow 👇 pic.twitter.com/HuM6qi74WB

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) February 2, 2023

Speaking in today’s press conference, the Gers gaffer was quick to defend Morelos – after all, he did nothing wrong – and pointed out that morality seems to be a one way street in the SPFL:

“If we are going to say players can’t celebrate goals now we may as well stop the game. A lot is made of these things in Scotland that doesn’t tend to happen down south. You have to celebrate a goal, if he doesn’t people would say he is moody and wants away.

“I want our players to celebrate, I want our players to play with passion. He (Morelos) was about twenty yards away from the pitch. We should probably be talking about the abuse that comes the other way for players rather than celebrating.”

Beale is right. Morelos did nothing offensive, nothing inflammatory. He did a knee slide and “shooshed” the crowd. After the stick he had been getting, he was the picture of calm with his retaliation and that’s what annoys them.

🐃 @morelos2106 | #ElBufalo pic.twitter.com/M7wHYxx3Na

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) February 2, 2023

You can call him “fat” all you want, but he is still better than any other player in the SPFL outside of Celtic and opposition fans can’t handle that. The narrative that the Scottish media has built up around Morelos has been toxic for years, what doesn’t help is when the likes of Kris Boyd and, now, McCann join in with the finger pointing – do better lads, with friends like these, who needs enemies?