McCoist’s Grim Reality Check After Celtic Hammer Rangers

Ally McCoist has been candid in acknowledging the widening gap between Celtic and Rangers following the first Glasgow derby of the season, which saw Celtic secure a dominant win over their rivals.

While Graeme Souness has been vocal in downplaying the difference between the two teams, pointing to stats to support his case, McCoist has offered a more honest assessment.

Reflecting on the current situation, McCoist stated:

“I can’t remember, sadly, looking at Rangers and Celtic’s team and seeing as big a gulf, which is a major, major concern.” He told Football Scotland. “Celtic have dominated and have been better by a distance recently. I looked at the Cup Final last season. Could have went either way, the goalie makes a mistake and Celtic win it. You then look at the season and think, well, we’ll see how it goes. And then boof, nah.”

He went on to give Celtic full credit for their latest victory, admitting that Rangers are lacking in key areas, particularly in leadership and direction:

“Celtic thoroughly deserved the victory. I look at Rangers and they look lacking in leadership, lacking in direction and it’s a big concern. That said, from Celtic’s point of view, they’ve had a great start to the season and fair play to them. I spoke to Brendan Rodgers this morning and as you can imagine, he was in top form. They’ve got the Champions League to look forward to, whereas we’ve got problems. We have got problems.”

McCoist was brutally honest about the gap in quality between the two squads, noting how Celtic appear stronger across the pitch, especially in attack:

“It’s hard to say but you’ve got to tell the truth. And the truth is Celtic looked miles ahead of us at this moment in time, all over the pitch. Particularly in forward areas, they look as though they’ve got boys who are lively and score goals. For me that’s the big difference between the sides.”

Financial and Managerial Divide

Celtic’s financial advantage has also played a significant role in their recent dominance. The Hoops spent close to £30 million in the summer while still managing to turn a profit, an impressive feat that highlights the club’s astute financial management. In contrast, Rangers continue to struggle financially, with limited resources and a squad that’s struggling to keep pace with Celtic’s quality.

Brendan Rodgers, now in his second stint at Celtic Park, has revitalised the squad, and their early form this season reflects that. Celtic’s superiority has been evident on and off the pitch, with a squad depth that leaves Rangers looking outclassed. Furthermore, Celtic’s superior home attendance figures – with 10,000 more fans at every home Game than Ibrox can hold – give them a significant financial boost over their rivals.

While Souness may try to argue the gap isn’t that significant, McCoist’s admission paints a more accurate picture. Celtic are a bigger, more financially stable club, with an elite manager at the helm. Rangers are closer in quality to Hearts than they are to Celtic at the moment. Until Rangers can match those resources, the gap is only likely to grow further.