Ally McCoist Delivers Brutally Honest Verdict on Yousef Chermiti’s Celebration: A Major Concern for Rangers Fans After Kilmarnock Goal

Ally McCoist Delivers Brutally Honest Verdict on Yousef Chermiti’s Celebration: A Major Concern for Rangers Fans After Kilmarnock Goal

In the electric atmosphere of Ibrox Stadium, Rangers finally broke their home drought with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock on October 26, 2025. Goals from Derek Cornelius, Danilo, and a long-awaited strike from Youssef Chermiti sealed the win for new manager Danny Röhl in his debut home match. For beleaguered supporters enduring the club’s worst start since 1978, it was a moment of catharsis. But amid the cheers, Chermiti’s celebration—a provocative gesture cupping his hand to silence the crowd—has ignited a firestorm of debate. Enter Ally McCoist, the Rangers legend turned pundit, whose unfiltered takedown has left fans grappling with deeper anxieties about their £8 million summer signing.

McCoist, speaking on TalkSPORT the morning after the match, didn’t mince words. “Look, the lad’s scored his first goal in a Rangers shirt—credit where it’s due. But that celebration? Cupping your hands like you’re telling the fans to shut it? That’s disrespectful, plain and simple,” he declared. The 62-year-old icon, who netted 260 goals for the Gers during his playing days, knows Ibrox better than most. His verdict cuts to the bone: in a club where pressure is oxygen, alienating the support on debut isn’t just tone-deaf—it’s a potential career-ender. “James Tavernier needs to pull him aside today. No ifs, no buts. This isn’t Everton’s Goodison Park; this is Rangers. You earn the love, you don’t demand silence.

“Chermiti’s journey to Glasgow has been a saga of high stakes and higher expectations. Snapped up from Everton for a fee that could rise to £10 million, the 21-year-old Portuguese forward arrived with a glittering youth pedigree—top scorer at Sporting CP’s academy—but scant senior minutes. Just 300 appearances in two Premier League seasons spoke volumes: raw talent, unproven mettle. McCoist has been vocal from the off, labeling the transfer a “massive gamble” back in September. “Holy moly guacamole,” he quipped then, questioning why Rangers bypassed proven loanees like Abdallah Sima or Vaclav Cerny for a “big young lad” who “looks miles off it.” Seven goalless outings later, Chermiti’s Kilmarnock strike was a lifeline. He wheeled away, arms outstretched, before that fateful ear-cupping flourish—a nod, perhaps, to critics who’ve hounded his every touch.

For Rangers fans, it’s a major concern. Ibrox demands warriors, not provocateurs. The gesture evokes memories of past imports who withered under scrutiny: Alfredo Morelos’ fire brought goals but endless drama; Cyriel Dessers’ profligacy fueled frustration. Chermiti’s move smacks of immaturity, a young gun testing boundaries in a powder keg. Social media erupted post-match, with #ChermitiOut trending alongside memes of his hand-cup. “He’s got the tools, but does he get the club?” one supporter posted. McCoist’s plea for intervention underscores the fear: without quick adaptation, this could fracture the fragile unity Röhl is building. The German boss, fresh from Sheffield Wednesday woes, hailed the win as a “line in the sand,” but Chermiti’s antics risk redrawing it in opposition colors.

Yet, hope flickers. Chermiti’s confidence “skyrocketed” after the goal, per match reports, his hold-up play sharper, his run incisive. If Tavernier heeds McCoist—instilling humility alongside hunger—the striker could yet vindicate the spend. As Rangers eye Hibs next, the onus is on Chermiti to channel that bravado into brilliance. For now, McCoist’s brutal honesty serves as a wake-up: at Ibrox, celebrations unite; gestures divide. Fans pray this verdict sparks growth, not grudge. In the blue half of Glasgow, redemption is always one goal away—but so is regret.