Rangers have blown the opportunity chip into Celtic’s Scottish Premiership lead after a disastrous start to 2025.
Rangers’ early surrender of the Scottish Premiership crown has allowed Celtic to slip up multiple times without really being punished, the Parkhead losing three of their last six league games.
The Gers have been unable to apply the appropriate pressure to ask the question of Celtic, whose 13 point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership has relieved any pressure on our Old Firm rivals.
St Mirren defender Marcus Fraser has played both sides three times this season and reckons that there is one main reason why there is such a big gap between Rangers and Celtic as things stand.
Marcus Fraser on why there is a big gap between Rangers and Celtic
St Mirren defender Marcus Fraser singled out Cyriel Dessers as Rangers’ star man when asked about who stands out at Ibrox.
But the defender wasn’t quite so full of praise when asked to assess the glaring gap between both Rangers and Celtic.
Fraser agrees that Celtic are sizeably ahead of the Ibrox side and points to the Parkhead team’s winning mentality as being the crucial difference.
“I do yeah,” Fraser told Open Goal when asked if there is a big gap between Rangers and Celtic.
”I just think Celtic, I know Brendan Rodgers questioned them a wee bit, but I think Celtic are winners aren’t they?
”They just know how to get over the line at every opportunity and that’s one thing I don’t think Rangers have probably done well enough over the last few seasons.”
Rangers left flailing behind Celtic’s superior squad depth
It’s not just Celtic’s superior mentality which has left Rangers in their wake this season.
Philippe Clement was vocal about Celtic’s transfer business, the Parkhead club spending in the region of £40m this season as the Gers shop in football’s bargain basement.
| Rangers transfer spending 24/25 | Celtic transfer spending 24/25 |
| Mohamed Diomande (£4.3m) | Arne Engels (£11m) |
| Nedim Bajrami (£3.4m) | Adam Idah (£9.5m) |
| Hamza Igamane (£1.7m) | Jota (£8m) |
| Robin Propper (£1.5m) | Auston Trusty (£6m) |
| Connor Barron (£680k) | Paolo Bernardo (£3.5m) |
| Jefte (£630k) | Luke McCowan (£1m) |
| Liam Kelly (free) | Viljami Sinisalo (£1m) |
| Clinton Nsiala (free) | Kasper Schmeichel (free) |
| Vaclav Cerny (loan) | Jeffrey Schlupp (loan) |
| Neraysho Kasanwirjo (loan) | Alex Valle (loan) |
| Rafael Fernandes (loan) | |
| TOTAL FEES: £12.21m | TOTAL FEES: £40m |
That superior spending means Celtic have added strength in depth and Fraser explains it’s that additional quality that has Scottish Premiership sides struggling to hold out.
”It always seems to be on 70 minutes they bring two or three subs on,” Fraser said.
”That just freshens up the full team and just gives them that extra bit to go and win the game.
”We’ve got a wee bit to work on in the last 20 minutes against Celtic definitely.”
