Martin O’Neill and Graeme Souness found themselves at odds when discussing the quality gap between Rangers and Celtic.
Souness argued that the two teams were closely matched, with tight Old Firm games often deciding the outcome. However, following a recent 2-1 defeat at Parkhead, O’Neill vehemently disagreed. He criticized the current Rangers squad, labeling them as the weakest he had seen in years, singling out John Lundstram for a poor performance.
“I believe there’s a significant difference,” O’Neill countered on talkSPORT. “Rangers were shockingly bad in the recent game, which was crucial for them. They were lucky not to be trailing by halftime. Lundstram’s red card was simply senseless.”
O’Neill went on to emphasize the stark contrast with past Rangers teams, suggesting that the club’s early 2000s lineup would have easily outclassed the current squad.
While acknowledging Souness’s point about the closeness of the teams in points sans Old Firm clashes, O’Neill dismissed it as a moot argument. He asserted that these derby matches are crucial in determining the season’s outcome.
While O’Neill may exaggerate the quality disparity, it’s clear that Rangers need to bolster their squad under Philippe Clement’s management. Despite showing improvement over Celtic in recent times, there remains room for enhancement.
The upcoming summer transfer window presents a critical opportunity for Rangers to enhance their roster. However, as the focus shifts towards recruitment following the Scottish Cup final, the task of securing top-class talent becomes the new priority.
