Tom English makes Rangers claim amid major Celtic controversy
BBC Scotland journalist Tom English claims the “landscape has changed” a lot in the last year with the aftermath of trips to Dubai for both Rangers and Celtic causing issues at both Old Firm clubs.
After the Light Blues returned from the UAE last year, they saw their bid to win the Scottish Premiership title fall apart at the seams as they won just five of 10 league games after the winter break before the season was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the trip to Dubai, they had won all but three of their 19 Premiership fixtures, including a 2-1 win at Celtic Park.
English points out that the fingers were firmly pointed at the Rangers leadership this time last year after they imploded but the tables have well and truly turned now with Celtic finding themselves at the centre of a major controversy.
“How the landscape has changed. A year ago it was Rangers who imploded upon their return from Dubai and now it’s Celtic. A year ago it was Celtic who went roaring away to the title and now it’s Rangers who have established a significant lead,” English wrote on the BBC Sport website.
“A year ago all the questions about mentality and decision-making and management were asked of the Ibrox board, Steven Gerrard and his players and now those same questions are being asked of Peter Lawwell, Neil Lennon and his players.
“This season of theirs has thrown up a number of grim moments, from the Champions League exit against Ferencvaros, to the Europa League maulings against Sparta Prague, to the domestic losses against Rangers and Ross County and the ugly scenes that happened in that period.”
Celtic circumstances way, way worse
While the coronavirus was a thing when Rangers went to Dubai last winter, no one thought it would pose the threat to the UK as it does right now.
Celtic’s staff, players and board all know exactly how dangerous and deadly this disease is and even though Scotland was in lockdown, they flew out to the Middle East anyway for what seemed like a lads’ holiday based on the pictures.
Rangers also went to Dubai in good form. Celtic, on the other hand, still went even though they had fans hanging up banners calling for the heads of Peter Lawwell and Lennon.
The utter delusion among those at Celtic Park who decided to go to Dubai is insurmountable.
Yes, our form suffered massively after we came back. But was that anything to do with the trip to Dubai itself or was that down to the mentality of the players and the staff. Or was it just one of those things?
Either way, Rangers’ mid-season training camp pales in comparison to Celtic’s and the struggling second-placed side should be severely punishing for essentially putting peoples’ lives at risk by going there.
In other Rangers news, this player could join Aberdeen as part of a swap deal for Scott Wright.