John Hartson: Rangers do not deserve a guard of honour from Celtic
John Hartson has rejected the idea of Celtic giving Rangers a guard of honour in the Old Firm this weekend.
Brendan Rodgers believes his former side should pay Rangers the honour as a sign of respect, despite the fact Gers have not done the same in previous years.
Hartson pointed to that fact in expressing his outrage at Rodgers’ remarks, and as well as opposing a guard of honour he sent a message to the Celtic squad.
He told The Go Radio Football Show [16/03], “Let’s have some perspective, in the last ten years Celtic have done the quadruple-treble – [and there was] no word of a guard of honour.
“It’s never been mentioned so why do it now. I know Rangers have come back from the dead, come back from absolutely nowhere…it’s a brilliant achievement.
“A couple of years ago when Neil Lennon took his team to Ibrox and Celtic had already won the league, Rangers beat us and celebrated like they’d won the European Cup.
“I thought to myself ‘that is embarrassing, what are you celebrating?’ I hope Celtic take this on board and don’t do the same thing if they win.”
It is a shame Hartson decided not to show humility when presented with the ideal chance to do so.
He joins Chris Sutton in being very bitter about our success this season and it is a shame he does not want to offer us respect after what we have achieved.
A first title in ten years deserves some recognition, and the fact we travel to Parkhead unbeaten in the league is even more impressive.
We have outclassed all of our opponents this year and shown brilliant character to overhaul Celtic.
It is one thing if Celtic’s players believe it is too much to give a guard of honour on Sunday, but it should hurt for Hartson to call on them to do so.
Instead, his words hint at an underlying bitterness and anti-Rangers bias.
As long as we keep on winning we will continue to wind him up and that is always amusing to see.
Guard of honour or not, Sunday’s Old Firm promises to be a brilliant occasion.
In other Rangers news, Ross Wilson has been blown away by the loan performances of one Gers youngster.