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Even though Steven Gerrard told the media after the Old Firm game that talking about an unbeatable season in the league is a “sideshow”, it will be absolutely important to the Rangers.
And so it should be. While winning the Scottish Cup is also important, there is no question that the Rangers should be aiming for an undefeated campaign.
After the win over Celtic at Ibrox in January, Gerrard and his men downplayed it, although he probably felt the same excitement on the inside that he had shown when they won at Celtic Park the previous season. It is the same now.
I think the Rangers went to Celtic Park thinking, “We’re just not going to lose this game.” They didn’t play badly, but they missed James Tavernier as a winger, which is a fundamental part of their play because it allows the two 10s to move inward. Leon Balogun just doesn’t offer the same threat.
Celtic targeted that right-back area and was pretty direct at times, looking for balls behind to exploit the Rangers’ high line.
John Kennedy opted for a setup similar to that used by Neil Lennon at Ibrox in January when, despite losing 1-0, Celtic had the best of the game and managed to prevent the Rangers’ full-backs from getting ahead.
So it came as no surprise to me that Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie returned to playing as the widest midfielders to end that threat again, and with Mohamed Elyounoussi and Odsonne Edouard at the top, it caused a lot of trouble for the Rangers. Allan McGregor again produced three or four brilliant saves.
Celtic carried the biggest threat and created the most opportunities, and I don’t know why Edouard didn’t pull the trigger instead of falling under the challenge of Borna Barisic. For me, Willie Collum made the right decision not to give a penalty.
There is an argument that Edouard had to rise to the challenge, but I don’t think that was a reason for him to come down. I felt like I had a chance to shoot, but I was waiting for contact when none came.
‘The Rangers will take a few stops next period’
As the Rangers approach an undefeated season, people will compare the team to Celtic’s unbeatable 2016-17, when Brendan Rodgers was in charge.
Unlike Rodgers’ team, the Rangers cannot win the treble, but there will still be an analysis of their league campaigns in terms of points, goals scored, etc.
I think it’s unfair to compare teams like this, but I wonder how they would have played against each other. Maybe someday in the computer world someone can put that together and see if we can get a virtual result. Both are great sides.
For next season, the Rangers are now in a strong position because they are champions. Becoming a champion and dethroning someone takes an incredible amount of work. But staying there is more difficult.
Every champion will tell you that, be it boxing, snooker, whatever.
Celtic will be resentful and will try to regroup. It is a difficult reconstruction that they have because they have to resolve the management situation, the game team, the football director and a new executive director. It is a complete renovation.
They go against a Rangers team that is rejuvenated. There is a power over them and a belief in the club that they are back where they think they belong. And that will take a while to stop.
