John Hartson believes that some of Neil Lennon’s first team squad didn’t fancy it at Ibrox on Sunday.
The Welshman shared a dressing room with the caretaker Celtic boss for six years when no one would question the commitment of their team-mates.
They never won eight trophies on the bounce but there wasn’t many occasions when the desire of Martin O’Neill’s side was questioned.
Despite winning the title many Celtic fans are hurt by both performances at Ibrox this season with the claim ‘they never turned up’ hard to dispute.
Being a caretaker manager requires extreme diplomacy but whatever the circumstances Hartson has some searching questions to ask of the current Celtic squad.
In the Evening Times he explained:
The days of grabbing hold of people are maybe over, but players have to take responsibility for their own performances.
In our day, we could look around the dressing room or look at the player next to you and know that he wasn’t going to let you down.
I just didn’t see anything from this Celtic team on Sunday. We were saying the same things in December, but looking at the players on Sunday, there were several who simply didn’t fancy it.
They are playing for a great club, they are all on good money, and they had an opportunity to stick their chests out and show they can handle the big occasion. But for the second time this season, some were left wanting.
After the most punishing of seasons that stretched back to Alashkert in July, just days after several players had been involved in the World Cup Finals, Celtic’s season will wind up a week on Saturday in the Scottish Cup Final against Hearts.
An announcement on a new manager is expected in the days after the Hampden final with the first round draw for the Champions League being made on June 18 with the first round first leg matches being played on July 9 or 10.
