Rangers manager Steven Gerrard will be absolutely determined to stop bitter Old Firm rivals Celtic from winning the league title this upcoming season.
Celtic have won the Scottish Premiership title for the past nine seasons, and the Hoops are on the verge of creating history.
Neil Lennon’s side were given a hard time by Rangers in the first half of last season, but after the mid-season winter break, the Gers failed to keep up with the Hoops.
True, the final league table was decided on a points-per-game basis, but it is hard to argue that Celtic would have collapsed in the final rounds of matches.
Celtic will start the 2020-21 campaign as favourites, but former Rangers winger and BBC Sport pundit Neil McCann believes that if the Hoops do not sign a quality goalkeeper, then they will have a problem.
Scott Bain is the only senior goalkeeper in the Celtic squad at the moment, with Craig Gordon having left this summer after his contract ran out, and Fraser Forster has returned to his parent club Southampton after a successful loan spell at Celtic Park in 2019-20.
However, according to The Glasgow Evening Times, Celtic are on the verge of signing goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas from AEK Athens for £5 million.
Meanwhile, former Celtic winger Scott Sinclair has every confidence in the Bhoys getting the job done and winning the league title for the 10th season in a row.
McCann said on BBC Sportsound, as transcribed by The Scottish Sun: “I think they are a real challenge to Celtic. I think Celtic have got problems in the goalkeeping position. They were the best team last year and that was shown after the break. They were relentless in their quest for nine-in-a-row.
“But Forster was absolutely monumental in a lot of games last year, none more so than the League Cup Final which could have tipped the balance in Rangers’ favour. If they don’t replace him with a top-class keeper, I think it could just throw them off a little bit.
“But I think it’ll be tight this year. Rangers are every bit as good as Celtic on their day and they have proved it.”
Sinclair told The Daily Record: “This season isn’t going to be a walk in the park for Celtic. But at the same time, the winning mentality and quality in the Celtic dressing room is huge and there is no complacency in there.
“Everyone at Celtic knows just how big this season is for the lads. They will be right up for it and it’s all about getting Ten in a Row. The deciding factor will be Celtic’s strength in depth.
“It’s a huge advantage. They have better players than other teams, real quality, and I believe that will show itself in what is one of the biggest seasons ever for the club.”
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