Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee was angry his integrity had been questioned in the build-up to his side's 4-4 draw with Celtic. There had been speculation that McGhee would field a weakened team against Celtic ahead of Tuesday's Scottish Cup replay with Raith Rovers.
"It was scandalous the way it was spun," McGhee told Aberdeen's website.
"The people who wrote that disappointed me because as far as I'm concerned they questioned my professional integrity."
"It is insulting to me and I feel I was betrayed," said McGhee, recalling a conversation with the Rangers manager.
"I was talking to Walter Smith at Hampden on Thursday and the most important person to ask if he had any doubts as to my commitment to beating Celtic is Walter.
"I have tried very hard to cultivate relationships with the press, appreciate what they have to do and help them as much as I can.
"I will say it again, I was brought up a Celtic supporter, like all of us we have a club and that doesn't change.
"But I wanted to walk down Byres Road and look Rangers fans in the eye with them knowing that I am trying to take points off Celtic as well as Rangers.
"I will leave Aberdeen fans to judge for themselves as to our commitment and determination to take something out of the game."
McGhee's men produced a spirited comeback from 4-2 down to claim the draw with Celtic.
"At 4-2, I felt we could get something and you don't often feel that, particularly against Celtic," McGhee told BBC Scotland.
"I thought, if we could get a goal quick enough, I still felt that we had the legs and the desire and that's the way it worked out.
"So, when the fourth goal went in, I wasn't surprised."