Simon Jordan has offered a blunt response after Jim White suggested that Rangers’ past success against Borussia Dortmund indicated Celtic could have triumphed in Germany.
Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side suffered a brutal 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday (1 October), their first loss in this season’s Champions League campaign, which leaves their hopes of qualification hanging by a thread.
During talkSPORT on Wednesday (2 October, 10:29), White criticised Rodgers’ tactical approach but noted that Rangers’ famous victory over Dortmund in their Europa League run shows that Scottish teams can indeed compete at the highest level.
White pointed out that this was not the first heavy defeat for Celtic under Rodgers in Europe.
“It’s the second 7-1 defeat he’s suffered at the club. That’s on top of a 5-0, a 6-0, and a 7-0,” White said.
“Last season they conceded three times in seven minutes in a 6-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid and twice in three minutes against Lazio in Rome.”
One listener, Scott, argued that the Scottish league’s standard is not to blame for these humiliations, citing Rangers’ deep Europa League run: “It’s nothing to do with the standard of the Scottish league, Rangers got themselves to a European final recently, beating Dortmund along the way. So it can be done.”
Jordan, however, was quick to inject a dose of realism into the conversation. He acknowledged that Rangers’ victory over Dortmund was a tremendous achievement but stressed the influence of financial disparity in modern football.
“It can be done, absolutely it can be done. But we do know that the economic might of football clubs does determine more often than not outcomes, and we do know that there is a common metric that says, the bigger your wage bill, the more likely you are to be higher up the league,” Jordan said.
He added, “If you’ve got a wage bill of £400million like Manchester City have got, you’re likely to have better players and a better team.”
Rangers’ European Credentials
While Rangers might not have much to boast about in terms of recent Champions League qualification, their record in European competitions, especially under pressure, speaks for itself.
From their unexpected Europa League final run to their famous victory over Dortmund, Rangers have managed to thrive on the continental stage even when the odds are against them.
Whether it’s the charged atmosphere at Ibrox or astute coaching, Rangers have consistently shown they can rise to the occasion on European nights. Meanwhile, Celtic have struggled to replicate that kind of form on the bigger stage.
Yet, for Rangers, their ambitions remain focused on returning to the Champions League. As impressive as their past glories in the Europa League have been, Philippe Clement’s side will want to reclaim a place in Europe’s elite competition and make a meaningful impact.