Kris Boyd says whether it’s Philippe Clement or Kevin Muscat taking charge of Rangers, they face a “monumental task” against Celtic this season.
The Ibrox side appear to be closing in on a preferred choice to succeed Michael Beale after the much-hyped side slipped seven points behind the Bhoys in the Scottish Premiership table.
They have reportedly held recruitment talks over the last two weeks, with former Monaco and Club Brugge boss Clement and Yokohama F.Marinos manager Muscat now the final two contenders.
But Boyd reckons Celtic will remain the benchmark regardless of who takes charge and has aired concerns that Rangers themselves don’t seem 100% unified on Beale’s successor.
Celtic are making Kris Boyd jealous
He said in a Scottish Sun column this weekend: “Whoever takes over at Rangers has a monumental job on their hands trying to close the gap on Celtic.
“The big problem is not talent, but consistency. Far too often domestically, they haven’t been able to hit those heights week in, week out — and that’s why they have been miles off Celtic.
“While Ibrox fans won’t want to hear this, Celtic have to be the benchmark for the new manager — the exact same as when Martin O’Neill arrived at Parkhead and said Rangers were the target. Celtic’s level of consistency and winning habit is where my old club needs to be.”
Boyd continues, on the subject of a split board: “From the outside looking in, it’s clear the Gers board is split down the middle on who to appoint. If agreement was unanimous, then someone would be in the dugout right now — but that is clearly not the case. Whoever they go for, there is no margin for error this time.”
It doesn’t exactly sound like the ideal circumstances for a new manager to take charge. If indeed there is a row on who to appoint, any new boss could be up against it in terms of impressing key decision-makers at Celtic’s rivals from the off.
For the Bhoys, nothing really changes whether it’s Muscat or Clement in the opposing dugout. This side has shown excellent self-control in recent years not getting caught up in outside events, instead remaining laser-focused on their own football and results.
Brendan Rodgers is improving this squad on the training ground and could do so in the transfer market this January. Celtic have a chance to leave our rivals in the dust here. The benchmark, as Boyd says.
In other news, Watch beaming Celtic star show off a different kind of threat with international impact footage.
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