Charlie Mulgrew probably said what a lot of people inside Scottish football already believe about the biggest difference between Celtic and Rangers.
It is not tactics. It is not spending. It is not even individual quality. It is not tactics. It is not spending. It is the culture Celtic have built for more than two decades.
And no Celtic fans, it’s not an unbroken history.
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Charlie Mulgrew highlighted Celtic’s biggest advantage over Rangers
Celtic have been the dominant force in Scottish football for the last 25 years and Mulgrew has hit the nail on the head on why Martin O’Neill’s side were victorious in their pursuit of a league and cup double.
Speaking about Callum McGregor, Mulgrew said on The Breakdown: “The only [Celtic] issue for me was to guard against was complacency.
“And I think when you’ve got Callum McGregor in that changing room, somebody that’s going to be on the boys and explain exactly what it takes, having won a league and then getting beat from Aberdeen [in last season’s Scottish Cup final], he knows what that feeling is like.
“Guarding against that, starting the big games at Celtic knowing what it’s all about. I think it’s exactly what Rangers are missing that type of player and character, but I thought Celtic were brilliant.”
Mulgrew’s comments were important because they focused on mentality rather than ability.
Rangers have spent years trying to close the gap to Celtic through managers, recruitment and rebuilds, but leadership inside the dressing room remains a recurring issue whenever pressure rises.
Meanwhile, Callum McGregor continues to define the standards inside Celtic. He is the constant figure in the dressing room and the player teammates look towards when pressure increases.
That matters in title races and derby matches. Celtic have built a culture where senior players drive standards internally instead of relying entirely on coaches.
Celtic’s success gives Mulgrew’s argument real weight
Mulgrew’s point also carries more weight because of what Celtic have achieved.
Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football over recent seasons has not happened by accident. Winning consistently requires accountability inside the dressing room and McGregor has become the face of that mentality.
By contrast, Rangers are still dealing with leadership transition and searching for stability around the squad.
That is why Mulgrew’s comments landed so strongly. Rangers may improve tactically or recruit more players, but until they find somebody capable of setting standards the way McGregor does at Celtic, the wider gap between the clubs will remain difficult to close.
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