Rangers fans at centre of perplexing claim that can no longer be made
John McGarry has raised the claim of Rangers supporters’ need to flex their illustrious trophy cabinet as “perplexing”.
The Gers squandered the opportunity to claim more silverware and back-to-back Scottish League Cups after the penalty-shootout defeat against Celtic at Hampden Park on Sunday [15 December] after a “diabolical” display of defending ensued in the 3-3 draw.
However, McGarry has since discredited the Gers faithful in his column for the Scottish Daily Mail [18 December, pg70] after Celtic reclaimed the title of Scotland’s most illustrious outfit.
He wrote: “Rangers’ need for validation by dint of the trophies they’ve won has always felt greater [compared to Celtic]. This has always been a curious affair.
“While 55 titles, 34 Scottish Cups, 28 League Cups plus the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup did previously allow them to claim local bragging rights, the long-standing assertion that this collection of silverware made them ‘the world’s most successful club’ has always been perplexing.
“Purely in terms of football league titles, Northern Irish club Linfield can – and do – lay claim to that honour. And who can really blame them?
“Their title triumph of 2022 took them onto 56 national championships – a mark no side on the planet can better at this point in time.”
Rangers have a long way to go to dethrone Celtic in Scotland
Rangers had momentum on their side after the 1-1 draw against Tottenham in the Europa League, which piled further pressure on Celtic hero Ange Postecoglou in North London.
However, Rangers have lost the honour of being known as the most successful outfit in Scottish football after the defeat – the Hoops moved one title ahead with 119 major trophies claimed.
Furthermore, the circumstances of the loss at Hampden Park will only add salt to the wounds after Vaclav Cerny was denied a stonewall penalty after Liam Scales fouled the Czech forward – referee John Beaton awarded a free-kick, but TV replays showed the foul occurred on the line of the penalty area.
The Scottish Football Association are preparing to issue an official apology to the Gers for the error, and while the admission of guilt will justify the outrage at Rangers, it will not change the result.
Given the landscape of Scottish football and the monumental gap between the Light Blues and Celtic, it will likely be a while before the blue half of Glasgow returns to a position to reclaim the crown of the most successful outfit in Scotland from their rivals.
McGlynn’s claim, to those unaware, that Linfield are indeed the most esteemed in world football adds insult to injury – but on the bright side, if Rangers did not hold that title, neither will Celtic now.
In other Rangers news, Philippe Clement will sign off on a Lawrence Shankland transfer for the Light Blues.
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