Where Celtic’s humiliation leaves Rangers and Scotland | OneFootball

After a slightly emotional rant last night on the topic, the day after Celtic’s humiliation in Europe (again), where does their result leave Scotland, and most importantly, Rangers?

It’s really fairly simple, yet again. In short, Rangers have been Scotland’s sole flag-bearers in Europe for 6 years now – forget the Champions League in 2022, we weren’t ready in any way, and weren’t remotely equipped for it.

In the Europa League, however, Rangers have been titanic – we’ve won Scotland so many co-efficient points with the number of scalps and wins we’ve taken, and only since the past 6-12 months has Scotland tumbled.

This is because the rating became the last 5 years and not 10, and became club specific and not country.

Which means the clubs holding their countries up, like Rangers, are now personally rewarded for that, while the ones who give it little, like Celtic, are effectively punished.

But it does also mean Scotland have gone to pot in the coefficient and we’ve lost that automatic spot for the Champions League. Which, in turns, punishes Rangers in the event we win the league this season.

But Celtic’s loss last night?

It’s definitive now that Rangers (and Celtic) are simply not big or good enough to cope at that level. Rangers were terrible in 2022, Celtic have been terrible for the past decade in the Champions League.

Celtic were humiliated yet again in the Champions League, something which happens every season they’re there. It’s hilarious to watch them burn as Rangers fans, but for the reputation of Scotland it’s diabolical.

It’s why Rangers have infinitely more European credibility than Celtic, and indeed many clubs in Europe. It’s not just about Sevilla, it’s repeated last 16s in the Europa League for so many seasons now, it’s a level of Midas Touch that Rangers have in the Europa League that has earned such kudos, that even when Rangers are poor domestically they step up an incredible level and deliver in the Europa.

Celtic are miles away from this – they are dominant in the league but in Europe they’re nowhere men. Including the Europa.

Rangers are incredible in Europe, and sadly just don’t seem to have it in the league.

It’s a strange state of affairs that Rangers can stumble all over Hibs, and yet stroll all over Malmo.

Ibrox Noise’s Derek illustrated how it will be a tough one tomorrow against a formidable Lyon side, but who would bet against Rangers getting a result in this competition?

Could Rangers be top three after two matches?

All we know is Celtic most certainly are not.