Celtic defender Alistair Johnston has voiced his support for Canada’s American-born Head Coach Jesse Marsch following his outspoken criticism of President Donald Trump ahead of a potentially intense encounter between the two nations…
Johnston, who has made 51 appearances for his country, will be in Marsch’s Canadian squad ahead of their CONCACAF semi-final clash against Mexico later this month. The winners will then play either the USA or Panama in the final.
“If I have one message to our president, it’s lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state.”
Relations between the two North American nations have become increasingly strained since President Trump suggested Canada could soon become the 51st US state, a remark that was followed by a tumultuous ice-hockey match between the two countries that spiralled out of control.
Consequently, former Leeds United and one-time Celtic managerial candidate Marsch hit back at Trump’s claims this week. He said: “If I have one message to our president, it’s lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state.
“As an American, I’m ashamed of the arrogance and disregard we’ve shown one of our historically oldest, strongest and most loyal allies.”
Marsch included Johnston in his squad this week for the Nations League series, set to take place in Inglewood. And, in an interview with Canadian media, the Hoops right-back insisted his fellow countrymen will be using Trump’s preposterous comments as inspiration.
‘To hear it coming from him, I think, was really powerful,” Alistair Johnston
Johnston explained: “Hearing Jesse speaking so eloquently would be the best way to describe it. I think everyone could really resonate with his words. I think he really summarised how a lot of Canadians feel. To hear it coming from him, I think, was really powerful.”
“Something that’s important leading into this Nations League tournament for us has been adding that extra emphasis on what really is going on in the world.
Because as much as we like to say we’re in a bubble, keep politics out of sports and all these different things, no, we’re human beings. We hear everything. This is our country that people are proclaiming as the 51st state.
‘You saw that with the ice hockey, how much it meant to the players”
“It’s something that you need to stand up and fight for, as well. We’ve got to use this now as extra fuel. I think everyone, the entire nation, should use this as extra fuel. You saw that with the ice hockey, how much it meant to the players. It’s going to feel the same for us when we’re down in the US in March.”
Conor Spence
