Neil Lennon brushed aside Graeme Souness’ claim that there isn’t a significant gap in quality between Celtic and Rangers.
While Celtic has maintained an undefeated record against their arch-rivals this season en route to securing the title, Souness, a beloved figure at Rangers, suggested that the difference between the two teams was not substantial. He pointed to the tightness of the derby clashes and the fact that Celtic were only six points ahead at one stage to support his argument.
However, during a lively exchange on talkSPORT featuring presenter Jim White and pundit Simon Jordan, Lennon sided with the latter duo in disagreement with Souness. The Celtic manager emphasized that his team has been dominant and comfortable in their victories, expressing his belief that their superiority was becoming increasingly evident and inevitable in the race for the title.
In a recent appearance on talkSPORT following his appointment at Rapid Bucharest, Lennon remarked, “I concur that Celtic are a step ahead of Rangers. The gap is set to widen with Celtic’s participation in the Champions League. I’ve observed their matches, and in each game, Celtic have taken the lead and controlled proceedings comfortably.”
Lennon highlighted the challenges that Rangers are facing, particularly in terms of their style of play and recruitment strategies, acknowledging that while Rangers put up a good fight initially, the superior quality of Celtic ultimately told. He attributed the recent form dips by Rangers to be the key differentiator between the two sides.
Looking ahead to the imminent Scottish Cup final on Saturday, Lennon stressed the importance of Rangers neutralizing Celtic’s midfield strength to have any chance of success.
“I’ve closely watched Rangers this season,” Lennon noted. “It’s not my intention to criticize needlessly, given the significant task at hand for Clement. He will have the upcoming summer to instill his own vision into the squad.”
He also pointed out that Rangers seemed to lose steam in the final months of the season possibly due to mentality issues or a lack of genuine quality compared to Celtic’s lineup, which boasts more match-winning individuals.
“It’s a crucial moment for Clement, as ending the season with another defeat to Celtic isn’t something they desire. The odds are stacked against him, and he must devise a strategy to counter Celtic’s quick starts. The strength of Celtic’s midfield has been outstanding, and it remains to be seen if Rangers possess a similar level of quality. Clement will need to formulate a plan to contain that aspect of Celtic’s game,” Lennon concluded.