---
title: "Celtic: Noel Whelan slams Leigh Griffiths versus Rangers"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-noel-whelan-slams-leigh-griffiths-versus-rangers/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-01-03T12:00:57Z"
modified: "2021-01-03T12:00:57Z"
---

# Celtic: Noel Whelan slams Leigh Griffiths versus Rangers

**Noel Whelan has slammed Leigh Griffiths for being ‘overweight’ earlier on in the summer as Celtic lost 1-0 to Rangers yesterday afternoon.**

Speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-pundit-rages-at-overweight-celtic-player-who-turned-up-too-late-v-rangers/), the former Aberdeen, Livingston and Dunfermline Athletic striker was very critical of the 30-year-old for not getting himself into shape and insisted that Neil Lennon’s team could have had a much better start to the 2020/21 term if he had kept himself fit:

*“Well, if he’d have come in bang on weight and not overweight and not enjoyed the summer a little bit too much, yes, it may have been a different story.”*

### Griffiths could not help Celtic to victory

Despite being ranked as the best Hoops player on the pitch against their bitter rivals on [Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/celtic-rangers/bXscX) with a 7.2 overall rating, Griffiths could not inspire his side to claim any points against Steven Gerrard’s men.

\[freshpress-poll id=”340539″\]

Although he did some things well, there were other aspects of his game that he perhaps could have improved upon. The 30-year-old only managed a mere 29 touches of the ball overall, and given that he had lost possession of the ball no fewer than 10 times in the match ([Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/celtic-rangers/bXscX)), he lost it every 2.9 touches on average.

The result now leaves the Celts a massive 19 points behind the Gers in the Scottish Premiership table, although the Bhoys still have those three games in hand on them.

Nonetheless, winning the title for a tenth successive season does look like a big ask now for the Celtic Park faithful.

[***In other news, find out who Celtic are weighing up a January swoop for here!***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-bhoys-weighing-up-january-swoop-for-david-moberg-karlsson/)