Celtic’s record over Rangers this season was what eventually decided who would become the Scottish champions.
Three wins and a draw kept Brendan Rodgers’ impressive record against the Ibrox club intact and those ten points collected ultimately kept the SPFL trophy locked away in the Parkhead boardroom for another season.
With the Celtic boss looking to strengthen in the summer transfer window by spending some of the millions of Champions League pounds coming his way, Philippe Clement will have a tough time ahead of him trying to dislodge the Hoops as the dominant force in the country.
And that is what has former Rangers striker, Kenny Miller, sounding worried for next season. Not only do Celtic have a financial advantage over our rivals, but they also have players who step up whenever they are needed in the Glasgow Derby.
Kenny Miller laments Celtic’s ‘superiority’
The former Rangers striker has been sounding worried about Celtic more than usual over the past couple of weeks.
We discussed how Miller seemed panicked last week about Rangers’ transfer problems as he sounded off about the Ibrox club having too many players on their books who are not good enough to challenge Celtic.
And now, Miller admits that his old club have a major hurdle ahead of them as he admits Celtic’s players ‘step up’ and hammered home their superiority over the Ibrox side last season.
Miller said [Daily Record], “When I look back at last season’s Old F*rm games, the most influential players all wore green and white.
“I want to see the formation of a side who face Celtic and thrive on the environment created by capacity crowds at Celtic Park or Ibrox.
“These games are decided on small moments and when they have cropped up in recent times, players like Callum McGregor, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Matt O’Riley have risen to the occasion.
“That imbalance has got to change from Rangers’ perspective. Celtic now have three titles in a row and Rangers have to address their superiority.
The best part of this is that throughout the four SPFL encounters with Rangers, Celtic were without Callum McGregor and Cameron Carter-Vickers at some point in three of those games and still didn’t lose.
So whilst I get the crux of Miller’s point, the task ahead of Rangers is far bigger than he realises. What this squad have proven this season is this, even without the likes of Carter-Vickers, McGregor and Reo Hatate, Celtic can still pick up results against Rangers.
So they really do have more to worry about than just three of our best players. Celtic’s whole squad, including the fringe players, have shown that they have the mental fortitude to raise their game against the Ibrox club.
And that is something that will stand the title defence in good stead as Rodgers looks to add strength to his double-winning side.