Celtic star ranks Thelo Aasgaard 'crazy' tackle the worst he's ever seen as Anthony Ralston provides the proof
Arne Engels was quickly on the seen as Rangers man saw red and
Arne Engels insists Thelo Aasgaard ’s red card tackle was one of the WORST he’s seen in football.
Rangers playmaker Aasgaard was sent for an early bath after planting his studs high into Anthony Ralston’s groin during a frantic first half.
Ref Nick Walsh immediately reached for his top pocket and ordered the Norwegian off - leaving Gers with a mountain to climb as they trailed 1-0 after Johnny Kenny’s opener.
Engels was just yards away from the shocking challenge that left Ralston in a heap.
And the Belgian blasted: "Yeah, that was an incredible tackle. It was crazy. If you go into to somebody like that, that's just crazy, I think.
“You need to protect your teammates. I was at a good angle to see it and it didn't really look good. Those tackles can't be on a football pitch.
“Was it one of the worst I’ve seen in my career? Yeah, probably one of the worst. We know that it's a really big game and there are going to be tackles and duels that are on the limit.
“And we also did that and that was also a positive thing about our intensity that we also showed that we were there.
“But those tackles can't be on a football pitch and you need to defend our players and that's what we did as a group. We reacted really well on that, and I think the referee made the right decision."
Wounded Celtic warrior Ralston was left with ripped shorts and a bloody graze on his thigh but managed to soldier on.
The defender said: ”First of all, it's high. I've got cuts to prove it, so I think it was pretty high on me. I've not seen it back personally, but obviously I felt the force as well.
"You're running the risk and the boy ran the risk. He got sent off and that's the decision that was made." He's high, he's obviously went in with enough force to rip my shorts, etc. So, like I say, you run that risk and that was it.”
At the other end, Ralston was involved in another major flashpoint when he was controversially penalised for a handball as James Tavernier dragged ten-man Gers level from the spot.
Ralston put his body on the line as he dived with his arms tucked in to block Djeidi Gassama’s shot, only for the ball to deflect off his elbow.
The experienced right-back - who escaped a second yellow - felt hard done by as he said: "I haven't seen it back but I've been told from some of my colleagues who have watched it on their phone and staff, etc, that it was very harsh.
"Me personally, I've just tried to get my body in the way. I've also actively tried to keep my hands close to my chest with the thought of not to give away a penalty.
"So my hands were closed against my chest. But the decision was made, it's in the past. For me personally, I'm happy we've won the game, we're in the final."
With the blockbuster encounter on a knife-edge after 90 minutes, Callum McGregor stepped up early in extra-time with a thunderbolt to fire Celts ahead before Callum Osmand sealed it with a third.
It was a long-awaited derby win for the champions - their first win since last year’s epic League Cup Final penalty shootout triumph.
Ralston admits it was a relief to get the monkey off the back as he said: ”Obviously, we all want to beat Rangers, that's obvious. Look, I'm glad we've done it.
"I'm glad we've gone out there, we've won a semi-final and we're into a final now we can look forward to. But we have a day off tomorrow, we need to regain focus and we're going again Thursday - that's the message."
Martin O’Neill’s name rang out around Hampden at full-time as the returning messiah masterminded another famous Old Firm win.
Ralston says the interim boss has lifted the mood after Brendan Rodgers’ bombshell exit last week. The full back said: "He's been great. He's come in and it's been full of energy, full of positivity and full of experience as well.
"He's been in the game a long time and he keeps reminding us of that! He's been absolutely brilliant, along with the coaching staff that have come in. Really positive to help us and I'm delighted for them today as much as I am the players."
Asked if he’d like to see O’Neill hang around for the long-term, he added: "That's not my decision but I've enjoyed it since he's come in. He's been great for me, for the team."
Meanwhile serial-winning skipper McGregor admits his wonder goal was a major turning point. He said: "I found myself in a bit of space and if you don't shoot, you don't score.
"Thankfully it went in and it was probably a big moment in the game. There can be anxiety when you're playing against 10 men and it's never easy.
"Sometimes you can tighten up a little bit and once we got the second goal, we settled again, played well and then Ozzy gets the decisive one at the end.
"It was a a fantastic effort from the players to staff and the supporters. So we can enjoy this, but, you know, we've got a lot of work to be done in another final and we have to earn the right to play when we get there as well. So it's not just done by any stretch of imagination.
It’s been a whirlwind few days for goal hero Osmand - who only made his senior debut midweek against Falkirk. The ex-Fulham starlet beamed: “There’s no words to describe today. It's probably the craziest ever.
“It's gonna be the craziest day of my life ever. There's nothing that can really top this. It’s the best day of my life.”