Europe’s Great Pretenders: The Myth of “Carrying Scottish Football” Falls Flat Again
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair Every season, the same story gets rolled out.
When Celtic stumble in Europe, we’re told that the other side of Glasgow is “carrying Scottish football.”
They’re the standard-bearers.
The coefficient kings.
The club flying the flag for Scotland.
It’s a nice narrative.
The only problem is that recent results don’t exactly support it.
Their latest European outing ended in a 2-1 defeat to Jagiellonia Białystok—a side featuring former Celtic defender Yuki Kobayashi.
The irony practically writes itself.
The Reality Behind the Reputation
For all the talk of European pedigree, let’s look at the recent record.
- Lost 3-1 to Porto.
- Narrowly beat Ludogorets 1-0 at home.
- Lost 2-1 to Ferencváros.
- Drew 1-1 with Braga.
- Lost 2-0 to Roma.
- Lost 3-0 to Brann.
- Now beaten 2-1 by Jagiellonia Białystok.
That isn’t the record of a team dominating Europe.
It’s the record of a side struggling to consistently beat average opposition.
Yet somehow, the narrative never changes.
Every victory becomes proof they’re European specialists in the eyes of the media.
If Celtic produced that sequence of results, the Scottish media would be declaring us the country’s “embarrassment.”
Pundits love to give those lot excuses. Today you can have a look at any major Scottish football news outlet and see the difference in reporting.
Hearts have just been humped by 2 teams, 6-0 and 6-1, but are they not embarrassments?
Those lot are getting beaten 2-1 by Jagiellonia, who have a market squad value of 27 million, while they have a market value of £135 million?
The Kobayashi Twist
Perhaps the most amusing subplot was seeing Yuki Kobayashi lining up for Jagiellonia.
A player many Celtic supporters barely remember played his part as the Polish champions secured a memorable victory.
Football has a funny way of producing these little moments.
The defender who couldn’t establish himself at Celtic ends up celebrating a European win against the club across the city.
Sometimes you couldn’t script it.
Actions Speak Louder Than Narratives
Football has a habit of exposing exaggerated claims.
Supporters can boast.
Pundits can build narratives.
The media can push whatever storyline they like.
Eventually, results have the final say.
And right now, those results paint a very different picture from the one we’ve been repeatedly told.
The self-appointed flag bearers of Scottish football have just lost to Jagiellonia Białystok.
Their recent European record contains far more disappointments than triumphs.
Perhaps it’s time everyone stopped talking about “carrying Scottish football” and concentrated on carrying themselves through the next qualifying round first.
Key Takeaways
- The narrative around Scottish football often claims the other Glasgow side is carrying the sport, despite their recent poor results.
- Their recent European record shows a string of defeats, questioning their status as European specialists.
- Derek McInnes’s appointment aimed to bring stability, yet early indicators are disappointing with lacklustre domestic and European performances.
- Yuki Kobayashi’s contribution to Jagiellonia’s victory against the other Glasgow side adds an ironic twist to the story.
- This cycle of inflated expectations and disappointing results calls for a reassessment of the coefficient claims.
Bhoycie 
Eric Knott 
Expect a deliberate media campaign pleading for the Ibroxland loyalist supporters to be theRangers’ twelfth man starting against Hibs and then again next week against the Poles – Bialystock ? Ibrox cauldron ….Ibrox atmosphere like no other and more of the same piffle ! Make the ultra slow Chinese steel girders wobble into the asbestos and concrete with your support and Karaoke singing gobbledegook from the hurting scoops !