Ally McCoist states what Celtic and Rangers fans won’t like to hear about the duo in the Europa League

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Celtic and Rangers missed their chance to compete in the Champions League this season.

Whilst Rangers have been competing in the Europa League in recent years, there was a pretty negative reaction to Celtic losing their Champions League qualifier.

Both sets of fans, for their own reasons, have since held protests and called for changes at the top, as they now embark on their Europa League journey.

But Ally McCoist had a rather interesting message about the Glasgow duo competing below the elite in European football.

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Celtic and Rangers in the Europa League

Celtic, being champions of Scotland, should be enough to qualify them for the Champions League, but that’s the stupidity of UEFA.

But McCoist told talkSPORT, whilst ‘finances are far greater’, and everyone inside Celtic and Rangers craves to play at the top level, he thinks they belong on the Europa League stage.

The former Scotland striker admitted that, fans won’t like to hear it, both teams are ‘Europa League’-level sides.

“I don’t think Celtic fans or Rangers fans will appreciate me saying it,” said McCoist. “But I think that’s where we are, a kind of catch-22 situation, because you clearly want to qualify for the Champions League.

“The finances are far greater, and it’s money that certainly both clubs can do with, but realistically, looking at both clubs, on a playing level. I think we are Europa League teams.”

‘Dare to dream’ in the Europa League

Rangers recently reached the Europa League final, losing to Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties in 2022, and that brilliant Aaron Ramsey miss.

But Celtic have also had their fair share of heartache, and that was touched upon by Charlie Mulgrew on talkSPORT.

The former Celtic defender made it clear that the aim should always be to play in the Champions League, but now that you are competing in the Europa League, then ‘you can dare to dream.’

“I think that there’s a realistic chance you’re running it,” said Mulgrew. “I don’t think we should ever get to the point with Celtic and Rangers and think, ‘let’s not let’s try no qualify for the Champions League, let’s try and just be a Europa League team.’

“I think you need to keep striving towards that, but if you find yourself in the Europa League, then you can dare to dream.

“I think, if you look over the last 20 years, Rangers have made two finals and Celtic have made a final, there’s definitely a chance for a run in that, so it’s exciting times.”