Steven Gerrard has tried to deflect any guard of honour snub away from himself today.
Rangers decided earlier this week not to give Celtic a guard of honour. Whilst Callum McGregor may not care, it’s still a sign of respect that’s been going on for years. Traditionally, the first team the newly crowned champions face stand in two lines to welcome and applaud them onto the pitch.
Unsurprisingly, Rangers aren’t up for it. But in a poor show, the Rangers manager has given it the old “it wasn’t me” comment today, and tried to brush off any talk of it to the sidelines.
Speaking at his press conference, the Rangers manager said that his thoughts on the situation are irrelevant.
This looks poor
You have to wonder whether Gerrard managed to say this without his face turning red with embarrassment. If he had thoughts on this that contradicted the club’s, he could’ve at least made them clear.
Once again, the Rangers manager seems happy to toe the party line. It’s something that will get brushed under the carpet, but not giving a guard of honour remains a real lack of respect to your opponents.
Gerrard would likely have expected some class shown had it been the other way around. Would we have given them one if the shoe was on the other foot? Who knows, Celtic haven’t been the petty ones in recent years.
There remains a sense of entitlement at Ibrox that has never been satisfied over the last several years. There’s an air of disrespect and dismissal towards the trophies our club continues to win on an annual basis. For example, wait until you see the reaction when/if they ever win their first major trophy.
It’s just disappointing to see a man of Gerrard’s stature come up here and drop his principles. Make no mistake, he’ll know fine well Celtic deserve a guard of honour. But hey ho, it looks like he’s satisfied to listen to what daddy says yet again.
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