Barisic says Kennedy’s claim is ‘biggest joke I have heard this year’

Celtic interim manager John Kennedy’s comment last weekend that “on our day we are still the best team in the country” was always likely to light the touch paper ahead of tomorrow’s Scottish Cup clash with Rangers. And so it has proved.

Yesterday, Ibrox defender Borna Barisic branded Kennedy's claims a "joke", while Rangers manager Steven Gerrard reminded his counterpart that it is his players who will lift the Premiership trophy next month following a dominant campaign.

Rangers remain unbeaten on league duty with just four games left and go into tomorrow’s cup tie as favourites to keep their dreams of a double alive.

“I didn't hear the comments but I read the interview beforehand and I think that is the biggest joke I heard this year,” said Barisic.

"They didn't win against us in three games and we are 20 points in front of them, so it is disrespectful a little bit to us. That's my comment on that.

"You need to be in life always realistic. If someone is better and if someone is 20 points in front of you, you just don't talk like that. It is disrespectful for all the things we do this season.

"It is not only from him [Kennedy]. I know a lot of people talking about Celtic's situation with Covid and all of these things. It's like we've lost five games or we are just five points in front of them.

"We are 20 points clear in front of them, we didn't lose a game this year. It is disrespectful to talk about anyone and changes. I am talking about this season. That's it."

Gerrard has also stoked the fires ahead of the last-16 showdown at Ibrox.

He said: "I don't really focus on anyone outside Rangers in terms of their opinions. I just focus on what's happening inside here.

"On the 15th of May we'll lift our 55th title as a club and I'll be one of the proudest men on the planet.

"Where that sits right now, we're 20 points clear with four games to play with the chance to go unbeaten. So I don't need to listen to anyone outside Rangers to get a view on that. I know the reality and the truth."

Kennedy hit back yesterday, saying his comments had been taken out of context and that he has shown Rangers “full respect”.

"My take on it is, people make a story and ahead line out of taking the commentout of context ," said the interim boss. "I was referring to us going into a cup game and on our day we can still be the best performing team in the country because we have that level in us.

"That is purely what it is. Several times in the last few weeks I have commented on Rangers thoroughly deserving to win the league because they have been the most consistent team, they have racked up the most points, so I have shown full respect to Rangers for what they have done.

"I am entitled to say that on any given day, especially going in to a cup tie against Rangers, I fancy us on our day to come out on top. People sometimes take a small part of that statement and twist it into what they want to suit their argument and that is careless for me.”