Simon Jordan claims Celtic and Rangers gap has changed, after Graeme Souness’ argument

Add as preferred source on Google

Another season will soon be upon us where Rangers are going to try and stop Celtic’s dominance in Scotland.

There have been many powerful periods in the history of the Scottish game, but Celtic have taken it to another level by winning 14 out of the last 15 Premiership titles.

That includes Brendan Rodgers adding another crown to his name during the recently concluded season, as well as that dramatic League Cup final win over Rangers on penalties at Hampden in December.

During this time, Graeme Souness has been pretty vocal about the gap between Celtic and Rangers, including how he doesn’t think it is as big as it’s made out to be.

That topic was discussed once again on talkSPORT, with Simon Jordan sitting alongside Celtic legend, Martin O’Neill.

• READ MORE: Craig Bellamy recalls the ‘immense’ Celtic moment during Rangers game that made him want to stay

Celtic and Rangers gap

Celtic won the league title by 17 points, and that’s after producing iffy performances in 2025 and getting a public telling off from Rodgers.

But Jordan thinks Rangers’ two wins and the 1-1 draw in the final Glasgow derby of the season proved that Scotland’s second-rated club is bridging the gap between their rivals.

The former Crystal Palace owner feels that new Rangers boss Russell Martin just needs to get the job done against the other sides, and then things could seriously change.

“We were arguing the difference between Rangers and Celtic, and the gap,” said Jordan. “Souness was arguing one thing, and Martin (O’Neill) and I were arguing another.

“What Rangers have done is actually bridge the gap in the games with Celtic, because they couldn’t do either. They couldn’t bridge the gap in the league, and they couldn’t bridge the gap between the two teams when they played one another.

“But Rangers have now landed a glove on Celtic more than once last year, so that means that Rangers have to take care of the other side of the equation, which is the teams that they should be beating and that they have the perfect talent to beat, and the mental approach to it has to be changed.

“You are going to beat Ross County. You are going to beat these sides. If you can beat Celtic, then you can beat these sides. That’s an approach. That’s a mentality.

“If (Russell) Martin brings a mentality into the equation that’s different to his predecessor, then they will win those games, and the gap will be bridged.”

When was the last time Rangers beat Celtic in the opening derby of the season?

Even the ardent Celtic Park supporter isn’t going to dispute that the two derby matches Rangers won last season were deserved.

But there needs to be more context here because Rangers always turn up to these games when the title is already won or nearly done and dusted. Just like this season.

The last time Rangers won the opening Glasgow derby of the season was in 2021. And the last two cup finals have also belonged to Scotland’s most successful club.

So, whilst the Gers get their wins on the board, the facts prove that it happens when the dust has settled or is starting to settle rather than setting the tone or winning those big final games at Hampden.