“I wouldn’t say I’d expect it,” Celtic star on an Ibrox Guard of Honour

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The Celtic Star

·16 April 2025

“I wouldn’t say I’d expect it,” Celtic star on an Ibrox Guard of Honour

Celtic can win the league at Tannadice later this month, all that is required is a single point against Dundee United to make 4IAR official and that will be a 13th title in 14 seasons for the club as Celtic’s relentless domination of Scottish football continues…

Post split fixtures

Traditional Guard of Honour for Champions

The post-split fixture lists were released on Monday and the second match is away to theRangers at Ibrox with the inevitable question being asked is if the hosts will do the right thing and welcome the newly crowned Champions onto the park with a Guard of Honour.

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Of course it’s never going to happen although all the other sides in the top six would almost certainly do it if they were Celtic’s first opponent after the league is won. Not theRangers though and for us it’s no big deal. What’s more important is that Celtic go out and play like Champions and give us a delicious afternoon were the 2000 plus Celtic supporters at the game can remind them that they are nothing but also rans in the Scottish game.

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Alloa Athletic line up as a guard of honour to welcome the Scottish Championship Champions, theRangers onto the pitch before the match between theRangers and Alloa Athletic at Ibrox Stadium April 23, 2016. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)

As Alistair Johnston was first up from Celtic in speaking to the media since the post-split fixtures were announced on Monday afternoon, he got asked the Guard of Honour question at Lennoxtown yesterday. He was speaking to the broadcast media then the written press but there was no invitation for the Celtic fan media from the club. It’s probably time for us to bin that altogether if only one side of the deal plays ball.

“We’re not too bothered if someone gives us a guard of honour or not”

“Would I expect it? I wouldn’t say I’d expect it,” Alistair Johnston said as reported by the invited media, The Scottish Sun. “The situation is what it is. We’re not too bothered if someone gives us a guard of honour or not.

“We just want to be lifting a trophy on the final day of the league season — that’s our biggest focus. Whatever happens in between is up to the other teams. That’s another thing I’ve learned since I’ve been here, don’t fret about things that are out of your control.

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“If you do, you’re going to lose a lot of sleep, and that can take you down some pretty deep and dark rabbit holes. For me, it’s just about controlling what we can control — and that’s something that’s very out of our control.

“Dundee United have had a great season”

“Hopefully we can take care of business up in Dundee first. Dundee United have had a great season and their place isn’t easy to go. They have made it a really strong place since they came up. We know it will be difficult, but you know when you’re that close to it then it’s a little extra motivation for the guys and something we’re all very excited for.

Bergamo, Italy, 23rd October 2024. Viljami Sinisalo and Alistair Johnston of Celtic applaud the fans following the final whistle of during the UEFA Champions League match at Stadio di Bergamo, Bergamo. Photo Jonathan Moscrop / Sportimage

“Hopefully we can wrap the league up, then go to Ibrox and play really freely and enjoy that match. But we have massive matches before then.”

Well said Alistair.

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