Rangers ViaPlay Cup win could galvanise club to overcome Celtic dominance
PLZ Soccer pundit Hugh Macdonald believes a win for Rangers over Celtic in the ViaPlay Cup final on 26 February could “galvanise” the club to a Scottish Premiership title.
Rangers currently sit nine points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table with 25 matches played, with many thinking their chances are over.
Macdonald confessed however that a cup final win for Rangers over Celtic could enhance Michael Beale into ending Celtic’s dominance.
“The cup, what a cup can give and how it can galvanise and enhance the manager, especially a new manager and it can enhance him,” said Macdonald on the PLZ Soccer YouTube show. (16 February)
“Look back to last year with Postecoglou because that League Cup win was so dramatic, you’ve got to remember that Celtic were at that time only considered real strong Championship contenders by the most strong of their support, this was supposed to be a rebuilding season, a season of getting players in, getting the structure right and then going again.
“They win the League Cup, Rangers come to Celtic Park, blown away and the whole season’s changed.”
Beale reservations.
Beale conceded on 16 February that Rangers chances of winning the Scottish Premiership this season are low after Celtic’s “outstanding” campaign so far.
And in all fairness the Englishman isn’t wrong in his pessimistic prediction, it will be tough for the Gers to gain any ground on Celtic now.
The Light Blues must look to both cups for their chances of silverware this season, something which could very well put them on their way to brighter Scottish Premiership days in 2023/2024.
It’s likely there will be a massive squad overhaul this summer with the likes of Ryan Kent, and Alfredo Morelos out of contract at Ibrox come to the end of this season.
Nevertheless, fans can be happy with the fact that with a third of the season still play, domestically the Gers are still challenging for every trophy possible.
This is something which looked massively unlikely when Giovanni van Bronckhorst was in charge, but times certainly seem brighter under Beale right now.
In other Rangers news, the Ibrox bank is set for a cash boost after a document emerged on Wednesday.