Chris Sutton takes stab at Rangers amid ‘Astonishing’ Champions League claim
Chris Sutton believes Rangers and Celtic are worse than last season and feels both teams may fail to pick up a point in the Champions League.
The Gers drew 2-2 with PSV Eindhoven at Ibrox last week and need a positive result on the road this week to make the group stages, while Celtic are already in the group stages after winning the league last season.
But with both clubs going through a rebuild this summer, Sutton wrote in his column for the Daily Record (26 August) that both teams are worse tha last year and he “shudder to think” what top teams could do to them if they don’t improve in the final week of the window.
“It’s astonishing Celtic still need 5 transfer arrivals but at least Rangers are worse than last season,” he said.
“Brendan Rodgers had to accept reality when he admitted this week his Celtic squad is weaker than last season. But there are some things he can be positive about. Like the fact Rangers are worse as well.
“The Champions League is just a matter of weeks ago and I fear for Celtic right now. In fact I fear for Celtic and Rangers – if they can somehow make it past PSV this week. Right now I can’t see the pair of them picking up a point. I shudder to think what the likes of Man City would do to them.”
Mental
We might be playing worse than we did at points last season, but we have basically signed a whole new squad and the players need time.
The defence is the same but there is a new goalkeeper behind them with big gloves to fill after Allan McGregor’s retirement, while the midfield is essentially completely new.
The same can be said for the forward line, and after losing huge characters and quality players like Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos we need to have patience and not expect things to click immediately.
Sutton’s comments as usual lack context and are just a way to have a dig at the club, but Celtic are definitely weaker and this is a big opportunity for Rangers to step up and take our crown back.
The Champions League, if we get there, surely can’t be worse than it was last season. Our squad is stronger on paper, and we could cause some teams a shock if we perform to our ability.
In other Rangers news, another first-team ace “likely” to leave before window closes after Kamara.