Lee McCulloch has claimed the gap between Rangers and Celtic can’t get any greater during the Winter schedule.
Rangers currently sit four points behind Celtic and five behind leaders Hearts. Despite the fact Steven Gerrard signed 15 players over the summer, the club are still within touching distance of the top.
Many supporters still expected more in Scotland, with a large section wanting a title-challenge. Rangers have stuttered in several away matches domestically, whilst being successful in European football.
The bread and butter, however, is domestic concerns. Rangers fans want to see progress at home, and challenging Celtic this season is on many fans’ wish-lists.
McCulloch has therefore warned the players that they can’t afford to slip-up any more than Celtic or Hearts in the Winter period. Speaking to the Evening Times, McCulloch said the following:
“The most important thing now for Rangers is staying on Celtic’s coat-tails going into the next Old Firm game at Ibrox between Christmas and New Year. That has the potential to be a massive, season-shaping game for Rangers if they can stay in touch with their rivals in the next few weeks.
“It looks as if Celtic are really clicking into form now after a few hiccups earlier in the season, so while I am prepared to grant Rangers a little grace in this period of rebuilding, it is also important to highlight that they can’t afford too many other slip-ups. If any at all.
“They must ensure though that those gaps don’t get any bigger before that showdown with their great rivals heading into the winter break, and if they can stay in touch, what an occasion that will be.”
Don’t have time
Like it or not, players and managers just don’t get time to build anything at Rangers. Success has to come instantly for many, and McCulloch appears to be one of those supporters.
Rangers may very well pick up less points than Celtic over Winter, therefore increasing the gap. That doesn’t, however, change the fact that Rangers have improved this season.
This rebuilding job being carried out by Gerrard is going to take time. Look at the mess the club was in last season when they had far too many players doing nothing on the wage bill.
The Rangers manager has since shifted out some of the deadwood and recruited 15. More are set to come in January, and juggling this with a title-challenge is extremely difficult to do.
The European success simply has to buy Gerrard more time. Going further behind Celtic and Hearts wouldn’t be ideal for Rangers this Winter, but would it be a disaster?
No chance.
