What Chances A Rangers Guard Of Honour For Celtic?

The thorny mobility of a defender of honour for nan recently crowned champions is raised whenever nan Scottish title is decided nan crippled earlier nan last Old Firm derby of nan season.

The thought of congratulating your fiercest, metropolis rivals successful specified circumstances has been anathema to galore down nan years, nan only quality being nan protagonists successful nan dugout and connected nan pitch.

Such is nan lawsuit this play aft Celtic secured nan title past play aft their 5-0 thrashing of Dundee United earlier travelling crossed Glasgow to look second-top Rangers connected Sunday.

Whether aliases not a defender of honour is thing that genuinely vexes nan clubs aliases their fans, aliases is conscionable a media construct, nan mobility ever comes up astatine pre-match property conferences.

So what are nan thoughts of existent managers Brendan Rodgers and Barry Ferguson connected nan issue?

Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan connected Thursday admitted he was not expecting a defender of honour astatine Ibrox, adding: "I don't cognize really it would beryllium if it was connected nan different ft and I don't deliberation we'll ever know".

His head points retired that "it's not successful nan rules" that you person to springiness one.

"I deliberation that, erstwhile 2 clubs successful nan rivalry are truthful emotional, it's ever difficult for nan squad that comes up short," Rodgers said. "I'm relaxed either measurement connected it."

Despite that and while admitting he is "a small spot of a traditionalist", he laments nan nonaccomplishment of "traditions of nan awesome managers" nan state has had.

"I ever think, if you're a champion to show, aliases not a champion, showing that humility to nan different team, immoderate nan rivalry is, it's a people of respect," he said.

"But, for illustration I said, Celtic-Rangers, it's an affectional rivalry and, if you're up short and if you travel up short rather a lot, past it tin beryllium a situation for you and to warrant that pinch your supporters."

Barry Ferguson has been connected some sides of nan title celebrations, some arsenic a Rangers subordinate and now arsenic interim caput coach.

"I don't cognize why there's ever a large clamour astir a defender of honour," he said.

"It's ne'er happened successful nan past, whether it's Celtic, whether it's Rangers, and I deliberation it will ever conscionable stay that way."

As for nan deficiency of a defender of honour, Ferguson adds: "It wouldn't fuss maine and, to beryllium honest, I don't deliberation it will fuss Celtic."