Brendan Rodgers’ return to Celtic has lifted the Parkhead club to another level. That’s according to BBC pundit, Michael Stewart.
Stewart was asked how big the gulf is between Celtic and Rangers and he believes that the return of the Irishman to Parkhead has already made Michael Beale’s task of overthrowing the Scottish champions extremely difficult.
Stewart said, [BBC Sportsound], “We live in a world here in Scottish football where it is so black and white, but in reality, there are so many different shades of grey that need to be taken into consideration.
“If you lose the league, it’s the way you lose the league that needs to be taken into consideration. Giovanni van Bronckhorst gets to the Europa League final and wins the Scottish Cup, get’s them [Rangers] into the Champions League. But you could tell the next season that it wasn’t right, it was drifting and that his time was up.
“So for Michael Beale, I think the reality is that this the eighth season that Rangers have been in the top flight, Celtic have moved the goalposts.
“Brendan Rodgers first came in and just catapulted that club to another level, then Ange Postecoglou has done the same.
“And to go back and get Brendan Rodgers again, the game has moved up a level and Rangers are going to have a very, very tough task of being able to match that.”
Brendan Rodgers’ first spell at Celtic saw the club set a course for a period of domination that no one could have foreseen.
An Invincibles Treble was followed up by the Double Treble and, before Rodgers left for Leicester City, he already had us on course for an unprecedented Treble Treble.
The Quarduple Treble soon followed and after one trophyless season, the Ange Postecoglou era kicked off. The Australian enjoyed another two years of success at Celtic leaving Rangers in our trail.
And whilst many on the other side of Glasgow would have rejoiced at Ange’s departure for Tottenham, there is no doubt they would have felt exasperated the minute that Rodgers was hired to take over from the Aussie.
We have already seen in the short seven weeks he has been at the club the improvements that Rodgers has made to certain players in the Celtic team. His recruitment, so far, is also looking good. And with plenty of cash behind him, Rodgers is still looking to strengthen what is already a very solid Celtic side.
Rodgers is an elite manager with plenty of experience behind him. Beale is still cutting his teeth in management. As Stewart says, the task ahead for the Ibrox boss does look extremely difficult. Another period of domestic dominance for Celtic could be awaiting the Hoops supporters.
In other news, Aberdeen star sets out gameplan vs Celtic; it could play into Brendan Rodgers’ hands
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
