Latest news with #Old Firm
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Harry Redknapp crowns Celtic champions already as Rangers told they have new rivals
Harry Redknapp reckons the resurgence of Hearts and Hibs might be something for Rangers to worry about this season. But not so much for Celtic who he believes will be miles ahead of the rest. Both capital clubs have started the season strongly and new Hearts owner Tony Bloom has made it clear he is in Scotland to take the fight to the Old Firm – predicting the Jambos will win a title within the next decade. READ MORE: I wasn't at Rangers level and Celtic brutally exposed me – Russell Martin will find it tough READ MORE: The Celtic chief will remain in hiding as the boss tries to deal with tight-fisted change of stance – Keith Jackson Hibs are quietly going about their business and a decent start in the league plus an eye-catching Conference League result against Partizan Belgrade has them feeling good about the season ahead. Redknapp still believes Celtic and Rangers will be the top two this season with the Hoops crowned champions come May. But he believes the Edinburgh sides may just have enough about them to 'push' Rangers in the fight for second. The former Tottenham boss, speaking exclusively with BetVictor Casino, said: 'It's great to see Tony Bloom get involved. I love what he's achieved at Brighton. I'm sure he'll do great at Hearts and Hibs are the same. The Bournemouth owners, they're invested in Hibs and they've done amazing. 'Hibs had a great year last year finishing third and they've had a win in Europe already, away from home in the first leg. Hibs are another good team. Hearts and Hibs have a big rivalry. 'I mean they're the two teams that could push Rangers. They're not going to push Celtic. I think Celtic will still probably be the team. "But Russell Martin's gone to Rangers. They had a great result in Europe again. He'll have them playing a brand of football that he loves to play, with possession. He's a confident guy. "Russell Martin, he wants what he wants and he sticks to his beliefs and I think that be enough if they get the right players in, they are a great club. 'People don't realise just how big those two clubs are. Celtic and Rangers, two of the biggest clubs in the world. There's an incredible fanbase all over the world. 'But, Hearts and Hibs are the two teams this year that could challenge, I think it'll be Celtic and Rangers one and two again, and Hearts and Hibs will probably battle out for third place.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Hearts' challenge now is to compete with Old Firm'
Can Hearts live up to Tony Bloom's audacious claim they can vie for the title this season?New minority shareholder Bloom wants Hearts to be champions within 10 years, but former manager Robbie Neilson says the first aim is to challenge the established big on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, Neilson said: "It's now about competing against the Old Firm for Hearts. That's where I see them. They look the dominant third force."The question will be can they make the step to go beyond one of them, which is obviously with Tony Bloom coming in? That's what they're trying to do."But I think it will be very, very difficult over the course of a full season. "One of the big things about Hearts is momentum, especially when you're at Tynecastle. If you can build that momentum of winning games, which they have managed to do in the group stages of the League Cup, you then take that into the league."It's really there at the moment, but the first big question will be when the Old Firm come to town, can you turn them over?
