Peter Grant believes that Giovanni van Bronckhorst should be given the benefit of the doubt at Rangers.
The former striker – now pundit – has claimed that Van Bronckhorst found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place when it came to Alfredo Morelos’ disciplinary issues.
Grant feels that the Colombian striker let his manager down when the Dutch coach was forced to drop Morelos from the squad for the club’s crunch Champions League qualifier with PSV Eindhoven in August.
Having been sent off against Hibernian the weekend prior it was reported that the 26-year-old was left at home due to fitness concerns and attitude problems.
Speaking on the GO Radio Football Show Grant admitted he felt the manager deserves to be kept on at Ibrox and discussed the ‘difficult’ situation he found himself in with his no.20.
He said: (20:40)”I’m taking the manager’s side in this respect, he’s had a lot to do with the Morelos situation.”
“The manager was going into one of the biggest games, a European game and had to leave him back at home. That’s soul-destroying as a manager.”
“For me, I’d have probably said no he’s got to go but I understand Rangers’ situation because at that particular time they were saying he was worth X, Y, and Z.”
“But for me, I’d have found that very, very difficult because I’m going into one of the biggest games, to qualify for the Champions League, the amount of money that was at stake, everything and he was unprofessional.
“That for me is [unforgivable].
“It’s the best job in the world bar none. You’re getting trained to keep yourself fit, you’re playing with your club with 50,000 people signing your name week in, week out and you don’t do the one thing you’re asked to look after yourself and prepare properly. That’s all you’re asked.”
TIF Thoughts on Grant’s comments…
Do you want Van Bronckhorst to be sacked?
Yes!
No!
While pressure has been increasing on the 47-year-old coach with reports suggesting the board are contemplating his position, he perhaps does deserve time.
The Gers are nine points off their city rivals Celtic but less than six months ago they were walking out for a Europa League final.
The side hasn’t been helped by injuries this term either and it isn’t the manager’s fault that the hierarchy have failed to deal with Morelos’ contract situation better.
His deal is up at the end of the season and after being pictured enjoying a cocktail on vacation, the club certainly have bigger problems than on the touchline.