Make no mistake about it, the Celtic rebuild that’s on our hands this summer is a substantial one.
After losing 10-in-a-row, we look likely to see a host of player departures too. Shane Duffy, Diego Laxalt, Mohamed Elyounoussi, and Jonjoe Kenny are all at Parkhead on loan. All four look sure-fire certainties to return to their parent clubs.
You then have big question marks over the futures of the likes of Odsonne Edouard, Kris Ajer, and Ryan Christie respectively. Big players whose contracts are entering their final years.
Then there is the general deadwood elsewhere in the squad that needs shifted on. Yes, it’s going to be one big rebuild regardless of who the manager and director of football is this summer.
But it already feels as though Celtic are being underestimated after losing their title for the first time since 2011. Pundits appear to be popping up all over the shop and telling us how Rangers can now dominate Scottish football for years to come.
Peter Lovenkrands has stated that the rebuild at Celtic leaves Rangers with a change to go on a run and win “a couple of titles” before we get back to our previous levels [Sky Sports].
We then had Dave King who’s suddenly appearing out of nowhere to gloat over his old side’s achievement. He was next to tell us how Steven Gerrard is set up nicely to go on and be dominant in Scottish football [Glasgow Times]. This from a man who constantly looked to diminish any title Celtic won over the last nine years.
But the bigger point to be made here is that they’re forgetting just how quickly Celtic can rebuild. Contrary to popular belief, there will still be real talent in this squad come the summer. The likes of Ismaila Soro, David Turnbull, and Callum McGregor give us a tremendous base to work from in the midfield, for example.
Celtic not as far away as people think; the right manager can instantly turn us around after rebuild
Celtic are a club going through a serious confidence crisis. It hasn’t been helped by the boardroom decision regarding the manager this season either. Similar to how Ronny Deila had a decent squad yet struggled to get the best out of them in 2015/16.
Brendan Rodgers was appointed and the change was instantaneous. Celtic didn’t need time to gel despite Rodgers bringing in the likes of Moussa Dembele, Scott Sinclair, Kolo Toure etc. Rodgers managed to instantly bring out the best in what was already a talented group of players.
This came at a time when Rangers were tipped to make big waves under Mark Warburton. Some would even have made them favourites to come straight into the Premiership and win the title. Of course, the truth couldn’t have been any further from that as Celtic blew them away.
Of course, you can even go back to 2010 for another example. Lennon had a monumental rebuilding job to do after the Tony Mowbray disaster. Yet despite us finishing way behind Rangers in the 2009/10 campaign, Celtic came within one game of securing the title one year later. The significance of a fresh approach showed that year.
Yes, the changes this year are slightly grander. We need a new director of football as well as a new manager this season. We also have Dominic McKay coming in as the new Chief Executive before the new season begins. Massive changes are sweeping through this club and it’s great to see.
But Celtic have proven in the past just how quickly they can get back on their feet. To boastfully predict that Rangers will now enter a period of dominance is way over-the-top and also naive.
Don’t be surprised if we’re sitting here in 12 months in good shape to regain our crown. That’s what a good manager can do for you.
In other news, a report has claimed that Celtic have offered a pre-contract to a Scottish youth international.
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