The gap between Rangers and Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table is six points, but the reality is a difference that is more than a couple of wins.
Recent results in Old Firm derbies tell the whole story and no wins in 2023/24 suggest that they are miles in front.
Philippe Clement doesn’t think that there is much between the two sides, neither does Cyriel Dessers, and it is an opinion shared by a Rangers legend even if it may not be entirely true.
Graeme Souness makes Rangers Old Firm gap claim
It’s not just points in the table or head to head records that seperate the two sides.
Football fans aren’t stupid and Rangers fans know that their squad is miles away from being able to compete with Celtic’s over 38 games.
Celtic’s third choice striker, Hyeon-gyu Oh, would probably challenge Dessers for a starting place.
James Forrest, who has barely kicked a ball in the last two seasons, is better than every winger Clement has at his disposal other than Abdallah Sima and, probably, Oscar Cortes.
In the derbies, Celtic have had spells when they have capitalised on mistakes, but they have never blown Rangers away in the same manner that Ange Postecoglu’s side did.
Speaking on Talksport, Graeme Souness is adamant that there isn’t a big gap and that there is only one real difference between the sides.
“The last three Old Firm games… for me there’s not a lot between them. They drew 3-3 at Ibrox where they came back from the dead and they’ve lost two games 2-1 at Parkhead and they’ve gone down 10 men.
“I don’t believe there is a big difference between the two teams but ultimately you know at the start of each season you’re going to win the league or lose it by your Old Firm results.
“There’s not a lot between the two. For me, they have better strikers. I don’t see a gulf in the quality of football they play. They have better goal getters which ultimately does decide games.
“If we go and win the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park then Rangers would have two out of the three trophies available, but of course the league is the most important.”
Progress is being made but Clement needs first derby win
When Philippe Clement first arrived at Ibrox, the target was to get Rangers playing to a level that second place wasn’t going to be in danger.
That is how bad things got under Michael Beale.
Aberdeen turned Rangers over on their own patch.
That hasn’t happened since the 1980’s when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge.
When it became clear that he knew what he was doing, thoughts turned to the two cups.
Maybe, there was a chance.
Even at the winter break, there was a sense of over achievement after winning the Viaplay Cup and topping the Europa League group.
It was only when Celtic started to falter and Rangers didn’t, that the league started to get interesting.
Ultimately, Rangers ran out of steam and out of players.
Brendan Rodgers is having it his own way just now because he has a fully fit squad and one that can cope with injuries, this won’t be the case next season.
Souness is right to an extent that none of the derbies have been one-sided and they could have swung in Rangers favour.
Certainly in three of them, Rangers had a golden opportunity to open the scoring but didn’t take it.
Celtic, on the other hand, didn’t waste theirs.
On paper, and in the results, it isn’t a big gap, however, the money needed to buy new wingers and a consistent goal scorer could be out of Philippe Clement’s reach.
There is a big rebuild on the cards, but there will still be players who aren’t good enough in the squad.
An issue Celtic haven’t had for some time and they can afford to get only half of their signings right.
Nils Koppen doesn’t have this luxury, but the early signs are that he knows what he is doing after a successful January window.
More players of the same profile and that six-point gap could swing in Rangers favour.
