Celtic may be having a bad time, but at least they’re not in Rangers’ shoes.
It was easy for Brendan Rodgers’ team to win the Scottish Premiership last year—they won by 17 points. All over the city, they had to start over with this program when Russell Martin was hired.
They still haven’t won a league game either. There was no winner in the first Glasgow Derby of the season, which may not have been good for either team. However, Martin might have lost his job if Celtic had won.
Different things are making people question Rodgers’ job. Few people doubt his ability to lead Celtic, but some are wondering if there’s any reason for him to stay at the club after his public requests for transfers were not met in the summer.
Barry Ferguson, Martin’s step-in boss, is worried about how the anger among Celtic fans could affect things at Ibrox.
It’s not easy for Rangers. What Barry Ferguson says
It remains to be seen if the situation going on off the pitch at Celtic Park will have an effect on it. Celtic’s new players will also have a big say in what happens.
In his piece for the Daily Record, Ferguson said that the situation could be a distraction for Rangers, who should be focussing on their many own problems.
“I know something is going on at Celtic,” he said. It doesn’t feel like a happy place right now, and I don’t know why or who is to blame. And there’s likely to be more trouble ahead. What does it matter? And as a Rangers fan, I don’t care about any of it. It’s not my business.
“It has nothing to do with the players in Russell’s locker room either.” Rangers have a lot of problems that they need to solve, and that’s how I would feel if I were a player for them.
“You can’t be mad at your competitors when you have a lot of work to do on your own.”
“If Celtic’s problems keep them from focussing on the task at hand, they won’t be able to do it.” Even when you’re not behind by six points, it’s still dangerous.
Since there are only four league games left, six points is already a big gap. Martin can’t let it get any bigger.
In the coming months, Celtic’s strength will be put to the test.
Celtic already has injury problems with Alistair Johnston and Jota, which tests how well they can build a team. Colby Donovan may play a much bigger role than thought.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Sebastian Tounekti have arrived to help an attack that needs it, and it’s possible that they will be needed right away.
When given the chance to play for the first team, players like Dane Murray and Luke McCowan have done very well. Both of them play in places where there is a lot of competition.
But Rodgers doesn’t know how good his options are at wide forward and full back, and he also doesn’t know if there will be a real challenge from Ibrox or somewhere else.
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