Alonso: I would not swap places with rivals

CELTIC boss Fran Alonso says he wouldn’t trade places with Glasgow City or Rangers ahead of tomorrow’s dramatic climax to the SWPL season. Rangers host leaders City at Ibrox while the Hoops take on Hearts at Celtic Park. Both venues anticipate breaking the 10,000 attendance mark, which would be a significant first in the women’s game. City’s destiny is in their own hands. Their two-point cushion over the Old Firm pair means they need only a win to lift the title. Should Celtic and Rangers both win, then goal difference and goals scored will play a part in who becomes champions. The advantage seems to be with City — but Alonso sees it differently. ‘I know my team and I trust my players. I wouldn’t swap with any of the other two,’ said the Spaniard. ‘Of course, I would love to have the points of City and be ahead but I don’t know that I would want to have to go to Ibrox to win the league against a Rangers team who have lost one game in two years. ‘This is our best season. In my opinion, we have been the best team in the league. But we will see what happens tomorrow. ‘It is indescribable. We have to control our own performances. ‘This has never happened before. Everyone is talking about the last league game. ‘It doesn’t matter who you support, it is exciting for everyone involved in the women’s game. ‘We are playing a very good side. Hearts are having their best season, but so are we. ‘If we win and it is a draw (with City and Rangers), then we’ll be champions, but there are three of us all thinking that if we win our games we’ll win the league. ‘We need to focus. We can’t listen to the noise and the talk around the game.’ Even the team who finish runners-up will still be assured of a crack at Champions League football. Celtic missed out on that last term, with Alonso aware that victory over Hearts will at least confirm a consolation prize. ‘A win will get us Champions League football and that is huge for us, especially when you compare the budgets of the other two clubs,’ he added.