BORNA BARISIC has labelled 'disrespectful' comments from John Kennedy as 'the biggest joke I heard this year' after he claimed Celtic had the best team in Scotland this season.

Kennedy made the remark earlier this month as he cited the January Old Firm fixture at Ibrox and the 1-1 draw at Parkhead as proof that Celtic could still topple Rangers on their day.

The Old Firm go head-to-head in the Scottish Cup fourth round on Sunday and the winner will become the overwhelming favourite to go on and lift the third piece of silverware up for grabs this term.

Rangers remain on course for an unbeaten Premiership campaign after securing their first league flag in a decade last month and Barisic has rubbished any suggestion that Steven Gerrard's side are not the top team in Scotland at present.

Barisic said: "I didn’t hear the comments, but I read the interview beforehand and I think that is the biggest joke I heard this year.

“They didn’t win against us in three games and we are 20 points in front of them, so it is disrespectful a little bit to us. That’s my comment on that.

“You need to be in life always realistic. If someone is better and if someone is 20 points in front of you, you just don’t talk like that.

“It is disrespectful for all the things we do this season.

“It is not only from him. I know a lot of people talking about Celtic’s situation with Covid and all of these things.

“It’s like we’ve lost five games or we are just five points in front of them.

“We are 20 points clear in front of them, we didn’t lose a game this year. It is disrespectful to talk about anyone and changes. I am talking about this season. That’s it.”