Celtic don't give a toss about Rangers guard of honour as changing of the guard is real Parkhead priority – Chris Sutton
It's not about a Guard of Honour for Celtic. The real debate is about a changing of the guard in the dressing room and who stays or goes.
Let’s get the first one out of the way immediately. If the situation does arrive as is likely where Celtic’s first game after clinching the title is at Ibrox on May 4, then I believe Barry Fergusonn and his players should applaud the champions onto the park.
I think differently about it now. In 2019 and 2021, I criticised both Rangers and Celtic for not doing it. Back then, I felt it was the right thing to do. I suppose deep down, I still do.
But, once we reached two years ago and Michael Beale’s team didn’t do it for Ange Postecoglou’s side, I gave up thinking it actually mattered because I knew it just wasn’t going to happen.
I said then that Callum McGregor and his team-mates wouldn’t be giving a toss and the same applies now.
But if I was Ferguson, I’d make it happen. Not just as an act of professionalism and respect, but because these Rangers players and staff should stand there and suffer and use the painful experience as an inspiration and motivation to ensure it never happens to them again.
Use it as fuel and fire to really drive everyone towards being the ones winning the title next season and making sure it’s them who are being clapped onto a park.
But the bottom line is will Celtic really care if it happens at Ibrox or not? No chance.
Brendan Rodgers and his team have more important things to deal with, such as winning Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone and then ensuring the title is secured at Tannadice before they even get to Ibrox.
By the time Celtic head across Glasgow to the other side of the city, the expectation is the Premiership is won and a place