Charlie Adam: Rangers CL qualification has prevented Celtic long-term dominance
Charlie Adam feels that Rangers qualifying for the Champions League was crucial to prevent a huge gap from emerging between Celtic and the rest of Scottish football.
The Gers beat PSV Eindhoven 3-2 on aggregate to qualify for Europe’s top club competition and join their Old Firm rivals in the group stage.
Rangers take on Celtic on Saturday (3 September) in their first meeting of the season at Celtic Park and Adam believes that if Rangers had failed to reach to Champions League group stage, it would’ve been damaging on a wider scale.
Talking on talkSPORT Breakfast on Friday 2 September, Adam said: “It’s brilliant for Scottish football to see both Old Firm clubs competing in huge Champions League matches.
“Scottish football was at a low point for a good few years.
“I’m not seeing it from just a Rangers perspective, I am seeing it from the whole of Scottish football and I think it could’ve been a big swing in terms of the financial backing at Celtic.
“Celtic have fantastic owners and I felt it could’ve seen a big change if Rangers had missed out on the Champions League.
“Getting it over the line will be massive for the football club.”
Massive moment
Regardless of Rangers’ fortunes this season, their win in Eindhoven will likely be their most important of the campaign considering the financial implications that came with it.
The huge fixtures against Liverpool will earn the Gers a significant amount as well as their other group stage encounters.
If Celtic had been the sole beneficiary of Champions League football in Scotland then the gap would’ve only widened between Ange Postecoglou’s team and the rest of Scottish football.
Rangers and Celtic do dominate the domestic scene, but if Celtic had a financial edge on the Gers, there is a good chance that the Scottish Premiership would simply turn into a one-team league.
The tight Old Firm clashes are essential for Scottish football to survive and it’s important that they remain competitive for the foreseeable future.
Gers fans will be eagerly awaiting for their next European adventure to start with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side looking to improve on their memorable run to the Europa League final in the 2021/22 season.
In other Rangers news, the club are definitely in the market for late deals if they can get the ones they want.