Our View: £2.5m Celtic star’s claim is shot in the arm Rangers desperately need

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Following his hat-trick on Sunday, Georgios Giakoumakis claimed that the Rangers squad lacks quality when it is compared to his Celtic side. He is confident Celtic will win the title – but could those comments backfire?

The Greece international was superb on Sunday. After his £2.5million (Sun) move from VVV-Venlo, where he scored 29 goals in 33 games, Giakoumakis has struggled to reinvent that form in Glasgow. But he did on Sunday.

Prior to Sunday’s outing, injury had limited him to just 17 games. A lack of momentum has seen him score just four goals. But his hat-trick saw Celtic see off the brave challenge of Dundee, Ange Postecoglou’s men winning 3-2.

Giakoumakis said: “It gives you motivation, and a little bit of pressure if you know the bad result of your opponents. We showed that we are a better team, that’s obvious. I think that we will win the championship.”

Giakoumakis confident: Could Celtic claim backfire in Rangers race?

Celtic now sit three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, a swing of nine points in the last couple of months. Giakoumakis form has been a plus, as have January signings made by Postecoglou and Celtic.

It has been a common theme in recent seasons, that Rangers drop off around the Christmas break and Celtic grow in confidence. But what has also been a theme, is Rangers players making title claims.

James Tavernier and Jermain Defoe are among those to throw down the gauntlet when Rangers are top – only for it to add to the pressure. Now, Giakoumakis might have done exactly the same.

He has given Rangers the drive, determination and much-needed bit of anger to improve their stuttering form. A potential win over Dortmund, and the returning Aaron Ramsey might also boost Rangers in the coming weeks.

Giakoumakis could be completely right. Celtic do have better strength in depth and at the moment, look the better side to win the title. But the past has shown, comments like this can backfire. A shot in the arm, for Rangers.