A ‘strong Rangers’ is easier said than done. Can they challenge Celtic?
Celtic’s Stuart Armstrong in action with Rangers’ Danny Wilson
Scottish Football Association chief Alan McRae has laid down the gauntlet to Rangers and urged them to challenge Celtic next season.
Rangers finished 39 points behind rivals Celtic last season, who went through the entire domestic season unbeaten.
Celtic have now won six titles in a row and McRae wants a more competitive top flight for the benefit of Scottish football.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers
He told the Sunday Times: “They have done it once [gone unbeaten], hopefully it won’t happen again next season because we’ve got to have challengers.
“They know you need to have people challenging, otherwise it will get very boring and dreary.
“We definitely need a good, strong Rangers, they are back, but they still have a bit to go. I’m sure they will eventually.”
Celtic’s Scott Brown and teammates celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership
Celtic’s unbeaten season was likely a one-off, but they rarely looked close to losing in the league, and it’s hard to see where the threat will come from.
Aberdeen have been weakened by key players leaving, and while Rangers have made several new additions, most of them are unknown quantities or have big questions over them, even Bruno Alves who will be 36 later this year.
Celtic are determined to make more of an impression in the Champions League this season, and the big hope for Rangers et al is that their big focus on this leads to them losing focus in the Premiership.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and their players celebrate winning the Scottish Premiership
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