Vladimir Weiss has admitted he had no issue with the jeers from Celtic fans during Slovan Bratislava’s 5-1 defeat at Parkhead, acknowledging that his past remarks from his time at Rangers may have contributed to the reaction.
The former Ibrox winger faced the Glasgow crowd once again, but this time as a manager, overseeing a dismal night for his Slovakian side.
Weiss, who had a clear opportunity to give his team the lead when the game was still goalless, reflected on the match and the missed chance that could have changed the momentum.
“Obviously the result is not what we wanted. We were expecting a really difficult game, which it was, but I think I had a good chance at 1-0, maybe if I take that the game would go differently, but unfortunately it didn’t,” he admitted.
Despite the loss, Weiss was magnanimous in his assessment of Celtic’s performance, acknowledging that Brendan Rodgers’ side played a style of football that his team struggled to cope with.
But he acknowledged Brendan Rodgers’ team played “fast, modern football” which he accepts was too much for his side on the night. “(Being booed) was okay, I don’t take these things personally, it’s okay. It’s nice they remember me after such a long time,” he said. “Obviously the result is not what we wanted. We were expecting a really difficult game, which it was, but I think I had a good chance at 1-0, maybe if I take that the game would go differently, but unfortunately it didn’t.
“They showed the quality they have. They played so fast, and we just weren’t good enough in in some moments. Obviously we watched some videos of them; I think it’s a totally different team from what I remember. They play fast, modern football and, yeah, it was too much for us tonight.
“We watched some videos of them; I think it’s a totally different team from what I remember. They play fast, modern football and, yeah, it was too much for us tonight.”
Addressing his own history in Glasgow, Weiss admitted that his previous comments about Celtic during his youthful days at Rangers might have stirred emotions.
“I loved my time at Rangers, I was only here for a year but I was very young and I know I made some silly comments about Celtic in the past. I’m a totally different person now but it was fun when I played here. I hoped for a better result tonight, but it didn’t come. That’s football.”