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What Alfredo Morelos did before Rangers vs Celtic cup final horror show that left Steven Gerrard raging

blair meikle
·2-min read

Alredo Morelos was late for Rangers training the day before a cup final against Celtic, infuriating then-boss Steven Gerrard.

The 2019 League Cup final saw the old foes go up against each other once again for a shot at glory and it was the Hoops who prospered through a contentious Christopher Jullien goal. Gers played well in defeat as Morelos led the line and missed a host of chances, including a penalty.

And it is perhaps no surprise given the story that has now emerged. The Colombian had several disciplinary issues throughout his time in Scotland and he got on the wrong side of Gerrard just the day before the huge Hampden clash.

Ryan Jack has detailed how his former teammate turned up 30 minutes late for training with a laissez-faire attitude which betrayed the enormity of the task ahead of him and the rest of the team.

Speaking on Open Goal, he said: "I'll never forget. We played Celtic League Cup final, Celtic won 1-0 with the offside goal - I think it was (Christopher) Julien, wasn't it?

"We were unreal in the game but Buf (Morelos) missed honestly about eight sitters, could have scored five, missed a pen. The day before we were not going to hotel and that, Gerrard was like 'we'll just keep it simple, the way it is.'

"We were training at 11. Gets to like half 10 - 'Anybody seen Buf?' It's like 'nah, he's not in'. It gets to 11 and the gaffer is like 'right, we're going to need to go and train.'

"Day before a cup final and he's still not it. We're phoning him and his phone is off. We're on the pitch at half 11, been out for half an hour and, no joke, he comes out with not a care in the world. Boots untied, socks tucked into the training joggies and just struts onto the pitch and tries to join in.

"The gaffer is obviously raging and he's like 'I'm not f***ing talking to him." The fitness coach is like 'you need to warm up', so he's just away trotting around the pitch, not a***ed, the day before a cup final."