‘It’s brilliant’… Ally McCoist claims West Ham have done Celtic a ‘massive favour’
Looking for another positive after Celtic’s 6-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League? Look no further than Talksport presenter, Ally McCoist.
The former Rangers striker was speaking about how the smaller clubs in Europe have no chance of competing in the Champions League when he said that West Ham have done teams like Celtic a favour in Europe.
McCoist said The Hammers’ Europa Conference League win should give hope to teams like Celtic that despite not being able to win Europe’s top competition, glory can still be achieved on the continent.
McCoist said [Talksport], “West Ham have done football a massive favour winning that tournament because it gives teams like West Ham that have no chance, including Celtic of winning the Champions League, it gives them a dream.
“It gives them an opportunity. You just look at those guys whose dads and kids and mums jump on that flight from the east end of London to go and see their team in Europe.
It’s brilliant, that’s what it’s all about.”
There is a small flaw in Ally McCoist’s Celtic comments
Whilst what McCoist is saying does ring true, for Celtic his comments are irrelevant.
Celtic are unlikely to ever compete in the Europa Conference League. When Europe restructures, no teams will drop down from their first competition into the next one if they don’t qualify from the group stages.
For example, Celtic are looking to grab the third spot in Group E of the Champions League so that they can drop into the Europa League.
From next season that safety net goes, as does the one for teams dropping into the Conference League from the Europa League.
Once you’re out, you’re out. And even if that new rule didn’t come into place, automatic qualification for the Champions League or the CL qualifiers means that the Scottish Champions would never appear in the Conference League anyway.
So whilst I like a bit of a feel-good factor about Celtic, McCoist’s West Ham argument has no bearing on Celtic whatsoever.
