The Rangers are coming but there shouldn't be sniggers and it might just be best thing for Celtic

Daily Record

a day ago

The Rangers are coming – again. This time Celtic fans shouldn't be sniggering at the suggestion.
And what is going on over at Ibrox cannot be ignored by those in charge at Parkhead.
It would be foolish to put the head in the sand when it comes to the challenge coming from across the city.
But it doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing for Celtic. In fact, Rangers finally getting their act together might be the best thing that can happen to them.
Just like last week's Scottish Cup Final.
I'm sure there are plenty of Celtic fans who were and still are distraught at losing to Aberdeen and seeing the Treble going up in smoke.
But I can't help but think the defeat was a GOOD thing for the club in the long run.
I mean that. If Kasper Schmeichel hadn't made that uncharacteristic mistake, or if Daizen Maeda had stuck away that last chance, the entire story would have been different.
Celtic would have completed the clean sweep, everything would have been sen as hunky dory.
But it would have papered over some of the recent cracks.
Listen, it's still a phenomenal achievement winning the Double. Regardless of what anyone thinks, it's tough to win two out of three never mind the job lot.
Celtic have made it look easy in recent years and they could well have done it again this time but for some big moments at Hampden last week.
That doesn't get away from the fact this is a team that is in real need of refreshing.
They should be proud of their achievements this term. But the defeat to Aberdeen has made them feel a little uncomfortable and maybe now some have cottoned on to the fact there is work to be done.
The big news from Rangers yesterday only underlines it.
Celtic simply cannot afford to sit on their hands because their rivals won't be worse next season than they were this time around – they can't be.
Celtic certainly can't assume they will be. And they can't get away with just doing the bare minimum to stay out in front.
The new Rangers owners are already talking about a £20m immediate investment in the team.
That's a decent chunk of money for Scottish football – but not to Celtic. They spent about double that in the last two windows, so that shows you the challenge Rangers face.
You would expect Celtic to go and spend at least the same again this summer. They'll have to.
The events of the last week should allow Brendan Rodgers to go tot he club's hierarchy and explain the team does need strengthened and rejuvenated.
They need more to qualify and then compete in the Champions League – and now to also stay ahead of the game in Scotland.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think there is any need to panic. But Celtic do need to recognise the threat – as well as the opportunity.
My old manager Martin O'Neill has often stated he believes a strong Rangers helps make a strong Celtic.
I would go along with that.
In my time at the club, Rangers were strong – and we had to be to knock them off their perch.
If there is a proper challenge coming from across the city, then Celtic will have to raise their levels and respond. That's no bad thing.
And even though the league was won by 17 points, I don't think the gap is as big as it would seem.
It doesn't take much to tip the scales in Glasgow, as we discovered when we turned a 21-point league loss into big win in O'Neill's first term in charge.
It was similar when Ange Postecoglou arrived at Parkhead in 2021, when everyone expected Rangers to dominate on the back of their title victory.
Things can flip quickly.
There's the stuff about Rangers coming, but in reality they are still a long way back.
The long wait for the takeover to go through and the delay over a manager hasn't helped them.
They are playing catch up and that's where Celtic need to hammer home their advantage, on and off the pitch.
Rodgers will know the importance of a fast start. He needs players in place for the Champions League qualifier but also to apply the early pressure in the league, when a new-look Rangers side will still be finding their feet.
This is no time to be mucking about.
Rangers fans will be galvanised and there will be a feel good factor on the back of the owners coming in.
In contrast, it's all a bit flat at Celtic right now. The best way to lift that mood is to get busy in the transfer market.
Because there are questions right now. There is a pressing need for a striker after the decision to sell Kyogo – and not replace him – came back to bite them on the backside. There are doubts whether Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate will be sold, people will wonder if the Nicholas Kuhn of the first half of the season will turn up, or the pale imitation we saw in the second.
There are questions about Adam Idah, the centre of defence, the wide areas.
All of a sudden from a position of supreme strength, it now looks like there's a growing list of jobs to do.
I've got no doubt Rodgers knows it too. He's hinted about it often enough. He's also heard plenty of times that Rangers are coming.
They may or may not be this time, but, regardless, Celtic cannot afford to sit still.