It is an undeniable fact that Rangers are currently further behind Celtic than they were in 2023.

It is an undeniable fact that Rangers are currently further behind Celtic than they were in 2023.

This week, a peculiar narrative has emerged following Celtic’s victory over Rangers in the League Cup final.

Additionally, it is not the penalty debate. There have been rumors that the distance between Celtic and Rangers is not as significant as initially believed since Celtic won the League Cup.

Jeff Stelling and Ally McCoist stated that Rangers’ performance against Celtic “encouraged” the Ibrox support to assume that the gap had somehow “closed.”

Philippe Clement believed that the gap between Celtic and Rangers at the summit of the league could be narrowed and that he could still mount a title challenge not long ago.

A narrative is also forming in certain areas of the Scottish media and punditry that implies that Celtic’s performance at Hampden on Sunday indicates that they are not as far ahead of Rangers as they initially believed.

Consequently, this prompted us at 67 Hail Hail to examine the current state of both organizations in comparison to their respective positions at this time last year.

The narrative that Rangers are closing the gap to Celtic is refuted by three undeniable realities.

The most recent financial results of Celtic demonstrate that the Parkhead club is significantly ahead of Rangers at this time. Celtic’s financial records are being broken as the Scottish champions continue to achieve record profits, with revenues exceeding £124 million.

Conversely, Rangers experienced a loss during the same period at Ibrox, leaving them with obligations exceeding £17 million. Celtic’s domestic record against Rangers is more robust than it was in 2023.

Secondly, Brendan Rodgers has secured the inaugural trophy of the season, which is now housed in Celtic’s trophy cabinet rather than within Ibrox.Finally, the Rangers were still in the title race at this juncture of the previous season.

Two games remained for the Ibrox club, which was five points behind. Celtic supporters will recall that Philippe Clement emerged victorious in those two matches, thereby securing the top spot prior to the Glasgow Derby in the New Year.

Celtic, of course, emerged victorious in that contest and proceeded to win the remaining fixtures, thereby reclaiming the title of league champions.

Rangers are currently positioned in third place in the Scottish Premiership table, 11 points behind Celtic. Furthermore, Celtic have already scored one more goal, conceded 10 fewer goals, and are unblemished with one point more, despite having played three fewer games.

Rangers have scored six fewer goals and conceded one more goal than they did last season, as well as won one fewer game and are five points worse off despite having played one more game than they did at this juncture of the season.