Graeme Souness sparked considerable debate yesterday with his comments following Sunday’s Glasgow Derby, in which Celtic secured a resounding 3-0 victory over Rangers.
The result, which saw Brendan Rodgers’ side dominate without ever really hitting top form, left many questioning the state of the two clubs.
However, Souness, in his analysis, downplayed the significance of the result, suggesting that the gap between Celtic and Rangers is not as wide as some might think.
It was a bold claim, especially given that Rodgers remains unbeaten in his six encounters against the Ibrox side since returning to Celtic.
Martin O’Neill, the former Celtic manager, was quick to challenge Souness’s perspective, offering a far more blunt assessment of the current state of Scottish football’s biggest rivalry.
Speaking on The Football Authorities podcast, O’Neill didn’t mince his words.
“Well, I think that Graeme was trying to convince himself that there’s not a really big gap between the two clubs at the moment, I think,” he began, before delivering a withering critique of Rangers’ current situation.
“And I took his point in terms of, on the day, you might get close to them but over a season, there is a chasm between the two clubs at the moment, an absolute chasm.”
O’Neill’s analysis cuts to the heart of the matter. The truth, as he sees it, is that the current Rangers side is the weakest he has ever seen, and the ongoing recruitment issues at the club only exacerbate the problem.
“And the reason is that this is the poorest Rangers side that I’ve probably ever seen. I don’t know who is doing the recruitment there.
“But I understand that they don’t have any money, so that doesn’t help a great deal. But surely to heavens, you can recruit better than you’re doing. They’ve been very poor. But each year, they seem to get worse and worse and worse.”
O’Neill’s comments highlight a reality that Rangers fans may find uncomfortable but is hard to deny. Celtic’s dominance, both on and off the pitch, has been evident for years.
The Parkhead club’s financial strength, bolstered by lucrative deals with the likes of Adidas, coupled with the astute management of their playing squad, has left Rangers trailing in their wake.
Rodgers’ recent transfer dealings, including the sale of Matt O’Riley for nearly £30m and the subsequent signings of Arne Engels, Auston Trusty, and Luke McCowan, demonstrate a club operating on a different level.
For Rangers, the challenge is to face up to the reality of this ‘chasm’ and formulate a plan to bridge it. As O’Neill suggests, acknowledging the gap is the first step towards closing it.
Yet, if the likes of Souness continue to deny the extent of Celtic’s superiority, the status quo is likely to remain, much to the delight of the Celtic faithful, who can expect to see more silverware added to their already impressive haul.