Former Celtic midfielder Simon Donnelly has not been impressed by the majority of the Glasgow Rangers squad, though one Ibrox star has received praise.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
Former Celtic midfielder Simon Donnelly has criticised the quality within the Rangers squad and suggested not a single player within Pedro Caixinha’s ranks would get into the Hoops lineup, the Scotsman reports.
Brendan Rodgers’ men have dominated the Scottish Premiership this season, having already wrapped up the title while Rangers are facing a huge uphill battle to try and finish second with nine points separating them from Aberdeen.
And after their difficult first year back at the highest level, Donnelly has offered a damning verdict on the Gers squad, though he did have some praise for one Ibrox star.
“I don’t see the gap closing any time soon, frankly. There’s not a single Rangers player I could pick who would get into the Celtic team,” he said, as reported by the Scotsman.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
“Kenny Miller, at 37, has been their best player but you wouldn’t drop Dembele for him. Full credit to Kenny – any time I’ve watched Rangers he’s been the one who’s tried to take the game by the scruff of the neck and popped up with a goal.”
While anyone who felt that Rangers had a chance of challenging for the title this season would have been left incredibly disappointed, the early signs from Caixinha’s tenure suggest that they do stand a chance of closing the gap next year.
Rangers’ Kenny Miller
Celtic will be looking to make more of an impact in Europe so may struggle next season to replicate the intensity they have shown in the Scottish Premiership this year, so that may perhaps open the door for Rangers to start putting pressure on the Hoops in the top flight – though it would be extremely optimistic once again to suggest that any kind of title challenge may be possible.
But Celtic have shown how valuable one excellent transfer window can be, and if Rangers can get a spot of luck with some of the ambitious targets they pursue this summer, then perhaps Donnelly would offer a slightly different assessment of their squad this time next year.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
