Rangers still 'a fair bit behind' Celtic, says Andy Walker
Tuesday 29 December 2015 22:33, UK
Sky Sports pundit Andy Walker says Rangers are still playing financial catch-up to Celtic but does not believe Ronny Deila is showing enough signs of progress on the European stage.
Walker was speaking as part of the Sky Sports News HQ review of 2015, looking at Scottish football, and, while he expects them to comfortably retain the title ahead of nearest challengers Aberdeen, he lamented the fact that Celtic are not seen as a Champions League club any more.
He believes Hoops boss Deila is not "learning" when it comes to Europe as the Parkhead club once again failed to progress to the Champions League group stages and were knocked out of the Europa League without winning a game this season.
"I don't buy into the constant talk and referral to improvement; I think you have to look at Celtic under the spotlight of being a really big club - they should be a Champions League club," Walker said.
"They haven't been for a couple of seasons now and I don't think there is any evidence that Ronny Deila seems to be learning in Europe. It is really not so long ago Celtic were beating Manchester United, AC Milan and Barcelona.
"In terms of their dominance at home, I'm sure they will go on and comfortably retain the title. I know Aberdeen are pushing them at the moment and they have improved but I think Celtic will do some business in January and that will enable them to stretch away from the rest and I'm sure Ronny Deila will come up again with the league title.
"They are big favourites for the treble and that would be a big call to dismiss a Celtic manager who has won the treble - I don't think Celtic would do it, but I'm just wondering if they are serious about making progress in Europe and getting back into the Champions League.
"They are surely not resigned to being part of the Europa League - they must think of themselves as a Champions League club."
Walker praised the management duo of Mark Warburton and his assistant Davie Weir at Glasgow rivals Rangers but believes they will need to improve the squad if they win promotion back to the Scottish Premiership.
"Rangers are certainly heading in the right direction. I think the one big surprise for Mark Warburton has been the level of spotlight and the intensity of Rangers," Walker said.
"He did such a remarkable job at Brentford, he's got a terrific CV down south and I think he has made a really good impact in what is his first full season at Rangers.
"I'm sure Hibs will chase them all the way - they've also got a good squad under Alan Stubbs - but with Mark Warburton assisted by Davie Weir, who knows everything about the level of pressure you can come under as a coach or a manager in Glasgow, nothing less than the title will do for Rangers. In all honesty I think they are a fair bit behind Celtic.
"Celtic have got a bit of financial muscle we are yet to see Rangers come up with. I think Dave King has talked a good game since taking over but I don't know if he has delivered as yet and Rangers certainly need players to cope with the step up they'll have on a weekly basis if, as we all suspect, they come up at the end of the season."
