John Kennedy insists Celtic WON’T be giving Rangers a guard of honour at Celtic Park – as payback for the Ibrox club’s snub in 2019.
The Hoops squad were urged by former boss Brendan Rodgers to show ‘humility and class’ by paying tribute to the newly crowned champions ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
But Celts have not forgotten Rangers failing to make a similar gesture when they went to Ibrox as champs two seasons ago.
Kennedy said: “There has been a lot of chat around it and a lot of people have spoken about it.
“To be honest, I think it has been made out to be a bigger issue than it is.
“As a club, we always act with dignity, respect and everything else. We will make a collective decision on that and we will probably not do it.
“The same groups, both here and at Rangers, were in the same situation in 2019.
“The guard of honour didn’t materialise so we will probably return that.
“I don’t think such a fuss was being made about it. I don’t see it as a big issue.
“For us, we spoke collectively about it and we won’t do it. It is not about lacking class, nothing like that, because we are a club that always shows class and dignity and do what is right.
“But ultimately this same group of players went in as champions and didn’t get the respect that time, if you want to call it that.
“They are the same players who are being asked to stand there. We have decided collectively as a group. We will just get on with the game, park that, so we will focus fully on the game and just put that to bed.”
Kennedy insisted the guard of honour talk was a side show as his side’s focus is on restoring some pride and form for the remainder of the season – and sending out a message for next term.
He said: “We’re looking forward to the game. There’s obviously been plenty of time since our last game to work in training so we are well prepared.
“It doesn’t matter about where we are in the league, we’ll look at the derby game in isolation. We are up against our biggest rivals and want to do well and hopefully lay down a marker for moving forward.
“A game like this is always important when you have two teams competing with each other every year.
“We’ve had great success over the years and this season has been a setback.
It’s important we don’t let that linger and we get back to the levels we are capable of.
“These are the games you are judged on as individuals and as a team.
“We know we have underperformed too many times this season but we want to show our true levels.”
Kennedy admitted Celtic have deserved to be left in Rangers’ wake in the Premiership this season but he believes the Hoops squad are ready to prove they are no also-rans.
He said: “The table doesn’t lie when you look at the performances this season and what we’ve delivered.
“But we know we are better than that. We’ve underperformed and Rangers have maximised and that’s why they are champions.
“They’ve been at full tilt and performed well all season while we haven’t.
“We know the levels we can get to but we need to get there this weekend.
“It would lay down a marker that we are still capable and we are still here, and then we can take it forward.”
Skipper Scott Brown is set to lead out the side at Parkhead tomorrow despite being linked with a player coach role at Aberdeen if his former Hibs pal Stephen Glass gets the gig replacing Derek McInnes.
Brown is out of contract at the end of the season and has the option to play on at Parkhead or take a coaching role, as well as the potential Pittodrie move.
But Kennedy said: “I spoke to Scott briefly on it and there has been a bit of speculation around it.
“But Scott is very committed to what we are doing here - as a player and a captain.
“He is still a very important figure at the club and on a daily basis he is out on the training pitch leading by example.
“Scott is very important for us and his pure focus is purely on Celtic.
“Come the end of the season, he is getting to that age where he will evaluate things.
“But until that time comes, his focus is definitely on Celtic and helping the club be successful.”
