Rangers are sitting second in the Scottish Premiership table right now, just nine points adrift of Old Firm rivals Celtic.
Celtic fans will probably have a field day with Daniel Candeias’ claims that Rangers have not given up on snatching the Scottish Premiership title away from their Old Firm rivals.
Yes, Rangers have been steadily improving for the most part under Graeme Murty, while Celtic have at times looked like a shadow of the team that cruised to the title last season, but there is still a nine point gap at the top of the table.
Rangers can reduce the gap to a measly six if they beat Hearts on Saturday before Celtic make a daunting trip to Aberdeen a day later, but Candeias’ comments can still be filed under optimistic rather than realistic.
“We play Celtic in a few weeks. It won’t be easy to win the title but it’s not impossible either,” the former Benfica winger told the Daily Record, who has arguably been the most impressive of the foreign imports brought to Ibrox over the summer.
“Of course Celtic have a lot of quality … but let’s just see.
“At the moment, Celtic are the strongest team because they are on top. But we have to play them twice and, with the gap only nine points, anything can happen.”
More than anything, however, Candeias’ confidence reflects the growing feel good factor around Rangers right now.
The Gers are in perhaps their best period since they were demoted to the fourth tier in 2012 and appear to be putting together a squad genuinely capable of challenging at the top – or at least overhauling perennial runners-up Aberdeen.
Rangers were a basket case of a club when the soundbite-spitting Pedro Caixinha was in charge but Murty has brought in a calm authority, while director of football Mark Allen has produced a number of impressive signings to boost the overall quality of the squad.
This season is probably too soon for a title challenge. Next year, however, could be different.
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