McManus eyes ‘tremendous’ title tribute to Celt legend Burns
The Old Firm rivals are now locked on 86 points but Celtic, who lead Rangers by four goals, will almost certainly secure their third successive championship if they win at Dundee United tonight.
The last time Celtic clinched the title at Tannadice, 27 years ago, Burns was on the scoresheet.
And McManus believes lifting the SPL trophy on Tayside would be a fitting honour in a week when the legendary former player, manager and coach was laid to rest.
“We have always said from the start of the season, especially when things got a bit tough, when folk started getting on our backs, that we were doing it for ourselves,” he said.
“That’s still the case but I think things have changed in the last week. We’ll certainly be using the Tommy side of it as a motivation.
“It would be a fitting end to the season and a tremendous tribute if we could go and win the title, and it would be dedicated to Tommy.”
Manager Gordon Strachan would not say his team would win the title for Burns, who was first-team coach and head of youth development in his final years at the club.
But he knows his close friend would like to see those around him happy again after a painful week since Burns died aged 51 last Thursday.
“Tommy has never asked anyone to do anything for him in his life,” Strachan said. “What Tommy would like is other people around him enjoying themselves. So we are going to do it for everyone Tommy would like to do it for. And that includes his team-mates, players, fans. We will be doing it for the people who Tommy wanted to see enjoying themselves.”
Strachan shed tears when he spoke to the media on the day Burns died, insisting their friendship had been the highlight of his time at Parkhead.
The tears flowed again in the east end of Glasgow on Monday when the funeral cortege passed by 20,000 supporters outside Celtic Park after an emotional service at nearby St Mary’s Church.
But the Celtic boss is confident his players, who all attended the church, can now focus on football.
“It’s a rollercoaster ride,” Strachan said. “Sometimes you get through it, sometimes you don’t.
“Sometimes you think you are over it and have done your crying and you start again.
“But I can see they’re switched on now for the game. That’s good because it has been an emotional four or five days.”
Meanwhile Rangers may yet prove to be victims of their own success if they lose out to Celtic. But manager Walter Smith insists he will not look back upon an epic campaign with any regrets, even if the SPL trophy does remain in the east end of Glasgow.
Tonight’s visit to Aberdeen marks Rangers’ 67th game, during which time they have claimed the CIS Insurance Cup, lost the UEFA Cup final and went from red-hot favourites to outsiders for the league title.
Smith is adamant he would not have had it any other way. “If it turns out that way, then fine,” he said.
“You can only try to win and do as well as you can in whatever competition you are in.
“We probably have succeeded to a greater degree than we thought.”
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