STEVEN Gerrard insisted last night that his players are on their final warning after video clips emerged of the on-loan Nottingham defender Joe Worrall saying “f*** Celtic” and making an offensive gesture to the camera after the club’s player of the year do.
While the Englishman insists he has a laissez faire approach with his players on such occasions, he has spoken to his squad since then to ram home the fact he expects better conduct and that they will be “severely punished” if there is any repeat.
Asked specifically about the Worrall clip, which also showed him larking around with defender Connor Goldson, Gerrard replied: “I have seen it and I have spoken to the players about it. We will deal with that internally but I have made it quite clear that I was unhappy about it and about the conduct. Hopefully after the words said to the players, situations like that won’t happen again. If they do, players will be severely punished for it.
“Look, at a players’ awards night, especially with the time off we gave them after it, the players are entitled to enjoy themselves, have a good night and be in the company of the supporters who were excellent on the night. I am not one of these managers who wants them to live indoors and not come out. We give them the respect they deserve and we expect the same respect back. They have to take responsibility for their own behaviour on a night out. That’s it.”
Gerrard, who has Borna Barisic back fit again for today's visit to Tynecastle to take on Hearts, refused to be drawn on the news that Celtic captain Scott Brown's hearing date over his conduct following the last Old Firm match had been moved forward a week from May 2 to April 26, other than welcoming the fact that it should see him serve any ban in time to feature in the last Glasgow grudge match of the season.
"I’ve got nothing to say on it, really," said Gerrard. "That’s Celtic’s business. But if he’s available for the Old Firm, it’s good news."
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