Rangers trapped in Champions League and SPL paradox | OneFootball

Rangers fans and Rangers as a club are stuck in a brutal catch-22. Recent media reports say the new owners should be thrilled at being close to the Champions League. A few years ago that would have been a huge achievement. However the same outlets then ask what the problem is. That question is rhetorical because we all know the answer.

Rangers are riding extraordinary luck in the Champions League. For example the numbers prove it. The side has faced over 100 shots yet only 29 have been on target. Crucially Jack Butland’s efficiency in goal has been the difference. However imagine if more of those efforts had been accurate or powerful. Therefore this fortune hides the real issue which is the conflicting priorities.

The Champions League dangles around £40m in prize money. At the same time the league demands consistent strength. Rangers spent roughly £25m this summer yet too much went on the wrong players. Specifically the club spent £15m on Assgard and Fernandez and wasted £5m on Cortes. Consequently with a squad littered with League One quality we cannot realistically challenge for both trophies.

Throwing everything into the Champions League could bring that £40m. As a result January’s budget would get a boost and maybe even next summer’s. Nevertheless it will not help right now. Domestically this season already looks like a busted flush. Moreover the paradox is brutal. The money from Europe is the only route to narrowing the gap to Celtic. Yet chasing it is costing us the league.

The roots of this bind lie in our own success. Indeed Rangers’ strong Europa League runs helped Scotland earn extra Champions League spots. Celtic as league champions cashed in on them. Consequently they are now £200m clear after a decade of group stage money. In contrast we have managed just one Champions League appearance in the past 13 years in 2022.

By excelling in Europe Rangers have strengthened Celtic’s domestic dominance. Now we are close to the new league-phase group stage. However chasing it means sacrificing our league campaign again. Ultimately it is a trap of our own making and the way out remains painfully unclear.

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