Donald Trump row sees Celtic star back his boss to the hilt as he vows to use controversial claim to fire up nation
The controversial USA president has caused a stir after claiming Canada could become America's 51st state
Celtic star Alistair Johnston has backed Canada's American-born manager Jesse Marsch after he launched an attack on his own president Donald Trump ahead of a potentially explosive showdown.
The Hoops full back will be in the Canadian team in California for the sem-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League in a few weeks against Mexico with the winners playing either the USA or Panama. Tensions between the two North American countries have been growing since new president Trump claimed Canada could soon be the 51st state for the USA and an ice hockey match between them descended into chaos.
The Canadian team are sure to get a hostile reception for the Nations League games. That led to the American former Leeds United boss Marsch lashing out 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 named Johnston in his squad this week for the Nations League series, which will be played in Inglewood.
And, in an interview with Canadian media outlet TSN, Celtic star Johnston praised his country's manager and demanded they use Trump's comments as motivation.
He said: "Hearing Jesse speaking so eloquently would be the best way to describe it. Everyone could really resonate with his words. He really summarised how a lot of Canadians feel. To hear it coming from him 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. 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."