Despite upbeat pronouncements from Rangers chairman John Bennett, Celtic's dominance over Scottish football looks set to continue. Bennett's insistence that "Rangers is compelled to win" rings hollow given the club's recent record, with just one Premiership title since 2011, a matching League Cup record, and only one Scottish Cup victory since 2009.
As the new Premiership season commences, Celtic face only the challenge of their own expectations. Rangers, meanwhile, trail behind both on and off the pitch, a reality underscored by their need to relocate to Hampden Park for the initial stages of the season due to ongoing upgrades to Ibrox's disabled facilities. This situation is further complicated by the chairman's comedically vague updates on the arrival of materials for the stadium renovations, adding to the sense of disarray at the club.
Rangers finished last season as a distant second, and their prudent approach to spending, while sensible, is unlikely to bridge the gap with Celtic. The club is further hampered by a pending court case regarding retail deals, which could cost millions, and the substantial expenses associated with renting Hampden Park.
Rangers supporters enter the new season with a palpable lack of expectation. While the relatively weak league structure suggests a theoretical title race, Rangers are unlikely to overturn Celtic's dominance. Their only hope of altering the power dynamics lies in successfully navigating Champions League qualification, a significant undertaking.
Celtic, on the other hand, boast an abundance of financial resources, further bolstered by the upcoming Champions League windfall. While some fans express concern about the club's perceived reluctance to invest, the upcoming season presents a prime opportunity for a significant spending spree.
Given the new format of the Champions League, finishing near the bottom of the group stage would be a major embarrassment for Celtic, potentially overshadowing any domestic success. The club's European record over recent years is dismal, and manager Brendan Rodgers' return was widely seen as a chance to improve their performance on the continental stage.
Celtic, therefore, have no excuse for not acquiring multiple players in the £7m-£10m range, signaling a genuine desire to compete beyond Scotland. With Rodgers at the helm of the best squad in Scotland, complacency would be a shock. He needs ambition and investment from the club to truly elevate their ambitions.
Beyond Celtic and Rangers, other clubs face their own challenges. Aberdeen are expected to improve under new manager Jimmy Thelin, although the loss of prolific striker Bojan Miovski is a blow. Hibernian's alliance with Bournemouth's owners appears to lack conviction. Kilmarnock's unsophisticated style was exposed in their recent European defeat to Cercle Brugge. St Mirren's impressive display against Valur presents a test for manager Stephen Robinson, who needs to maintain domestic consistency. Hearts face a similar challenge, balancing their European commitments with domestic expectations. With the resources at his disposal, manager Steven Naismith must aim to once again be the best of the rest.
The Scottish national team's dismal performance at the Euros has highlighted a broader issue: a lack of emerging, first-team-ready talent. The Premiership continues its humdrum, largely uncompetitive existence, with overpraise and inadequate analysis of the decline in standards. A day of reckoning is long overdue.
