JOHN HARTSON has slammed the suggestion that a Rangers Europa League triumph would eclipse the Celtic Lisbon Lions' achievement.
Rangers take on Eintracht Frankfurt tomorrow night in Seville with a chance to become Europa League champions.
But, while Hartson accepts it would be a phenomenal achievement, he insists there is no comparison with the Lisbon Lions - despite Kevin Thomson's claim.
Celtic won the European Cup in 1967 with all but two players in the 15-man squad born within ten miles of Parkhead.
And Hartson reckons the 2-1 triumph over Inter Milan is still leagues ahead of a possible Europa League win for Rangers.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Hartson said: "This is not a debate. It's not even a topic of discussion.
"You cannot compare any team winning the Europa League to winning the Champions League.
"When Celtic won the European Cup in 1967 they became the first British team to do it. Not only did they bring the European Cup back home from Lisbon, they did it with eleven Scotsman in the starting line-up. That will never, ever be done again.
"I've gone on record and said it's a wonderful achievement, Rangers even getting to the Europa League final. I wish them well, I really do.
"But are we talking Sevilla, they have won the Europa League six times, is that then bigger than winning the Champions League? It's not.
"I like Kevin, but to suggest that this would be bigger than winning the European Cup is wrong."
