Kasper Schmeichel has proven to be an exceptional signing for Celtic this season, seamlessly stepping into the role previously held by Joe Hart.
Brendan Rodgers faced the significant challenge of finding a worthy successor to Hart, who retired at the end of last season after three outstanding years with the Hoops. Hart brought stability and reliability during Ange Postecoglou’s transformative rebuild, leaving big shoes to fill.
Now, Schmeichel has taken over and impressed fans, with many considering him an upgrade over Hart. However, Liam Kelly made headlines with a bold and questionable claim about Rangers’ Jack Butland following his debut at the weekend.
Liam Kelly’s bold claim about Jack Butland amid Kasper Schmeichel’s stellar form
Speaking to The Scottish Sun, Kelly offered high praise for Butland:
“I’ve really enjoyed working with Jack.
“He’s an unbelievable goalie, he’s definitely the best goalkeeper in the league for me. He’s got everything when I train with him. Obviously, I’ve worked with a lot of goalies in my time.
“Really good taking cross balls, really good kicker, great shot-stopper, great communicator, right foot, left foot.
“I am a huge fan of him. Really good guy, we’ve got a good relationship. The goalkeeping group is really close and really strong.
“We do a lot of work with Colin Stewart, the goalie coach. Mason Munn and Lewis Budinauckas are in training as well. The goalie department is in a good place.”
Given Rangers’ poor start to the season, which has seen them drop to third place and relinquish the League Cup to Celtic, Kelly’s claim about Butland being the league’s best goalkeeper has raised eyebrows.
This prompted 67 Hail Hail to compare the two keepers and debunk what they saw as an exaggerated statement.
Kasper Schmeichel vs. Jack Butland: The stats:
While it’s natural for players to speak highly of their teammates, Kelly’s assertion that Butland is Scotland’s best goalkeeper seems questionable, particularly when comparing his performances to Schmeichel’s.
Schmeichel has been a standout for Celtic, conceding just four goals and achieving an incredible streak of ten consecutive domestic clean sheets. This level of consistency is something most goalkeepers, Butland included, can only aspire to.
The numbers speak for themselves and highlight why Schmeichel has quickly become a fan favorite at Celtic. Suggesting that Butland surpasses him, despite Rangers’ struggles this season, is a claim that simply doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.