BBC Radio Scotland pundit Michael Stewart says that Rangers are falling short of Celtic despite using them as a barometer, insisting that the Bhoys are simply the bigger club.
The Ibrox side are in the midst of a crisis after a horror start to the season that resulted in a UEFA Champions League exit, falling seven points behind the Bhoys and the sacking of manager Michael Beale.
Pointing to their only successful memory in recent memory, Stewart reminded listeners it came about as a result of Celtic implosion. And he can’t see where Rangers are matching the Bhoys on or off the pitch.
Celtic are a bigger club than Rangers
The pundit said on Saturday’s edition of BBC Sportsound: “Ultimately, so many of the Rangers supporters, whether they would admit it or not, they use Celtic as a barometer in Scottish football. And the thing that is very difficult for them to accept is that Celtic are a bigger club than them at the moment; they have a bigger turnover, they’ve got more money in the bank. It means that they can go and waste some money to be perfectly honest. They don’t need every signing to hit the mark.
“For Rangers to go and compete, they need all their signings and they need the structure of the club, as Willie [Miller] is talking about there, to be in place and on-point. And unfortunately for Rangers, it’s not at the moment and the other big problem for them is Celtic’s house is in order.
“If you look at when Rangers won the league, there are a couple of factors there that have got a huge part to play in it. And it was that Rangers had been building for a good few years under Steven Gerrard, they had a good team in place, but the massive thing that’s forgotten about in all that is that Celtic imploded. They absolutely imploded.
“Now had Celtic had Ange Postecoglou in charge that season or if Brendan Rodgers was still there. We will never know whether that would have been enough for Rangers to win the league or not, but the point I’m trying to make is it’s very difficult for Rangers to go and compete with a Celtic who are as strong as they are. And for them to do that, they need to have all parts of the club operating to the best of their ability. Clearly, at the moment, that is not the case.”
This will be a brutal truth for many Rangers fans – especially those who got caught up in the Michael Beale hype over the last 12 months. But as brutal as it is, it’s accurate. Rangers are miles off Celtic in many respects.
Until they come to terms with this and address their failings – rather than lashing out at exterior forces – Celtic will remain well in front. It’s been the same for years now. Changing direction from Giovanni van Bronckhorst achieved nothing and he brought them to a European final.
It means that regardless of who takes charge after Beale is facing an uphill task, as we discussed on 67 Hail Hail yesterday. If Celtic stay on course, keep focused and remain on a track of improvement, there really isn’t much Rangers can do to stop the Bhoys winning machine.
In other news, Brendan Rodgers left unhappy and calls out VAR officials for strange decision at Celtic Park.
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