Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers are not one of the biggest clubs anymore, claims Celtic legend Stiliyan Petrov.
Petrov made the claim following Rangers’ 4-0 defeat to Old Firm rivals Celtic at Hampden Park in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup last weekend.
Graeme Murty’s side were comprehensively defeated by Brendan Rodgers’s side, who look set to win the domestic treble for the second season in a row.
Rangers are in the fight for the runners-up place in the Scottish Premiership this season, but the Ibrox club are facing stiff challenges from Aberdeen and Hibernian for that position.
Celtic legend Petrov, who was on the books of the Hoops from 1999 until 2006 and won the league title four times during his time at Celtic Park, does not believe that Rangers are one of the biggest clubs in Scotland.
The former Aston Villa and Bulgaria international midfielder, 38, has also suggested that lack of competition for Celtic for the Scottish Premiership is unhealthy for Scottish football.
Petrov told BBC Sport: “As a Celtic fan, I am delighted because more success for Celtic is better, but it’s not healthy for Scottish football and Celtic as well, because they need someone to compete with.”
“At the moment, if you look at it, people don’t take Rangers as a threat, it’s more Aberdeen or Hibs,” added Petrov. ”Rangers are not one of the biggest clubs.”
Celtic fans have taken to Twitter to give their reaction to the aforementioned comments from Petrov.
Below are some of the best comments:
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