BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
MARTIN O’NEILL has put the boot into his old rivals by describing the current Rangers side as the worst he has ever seen.
However, the former Celtic manager is adamant that is no cause for celebration among the Hoops faithful, insisting a lack of competition in the Scottish Premiership will ultimately damage their prospects in the Champions League.
Brendan Rodgers’ men are currently on a record-breaking 31-match unbeaten run domestically – 30 of those victories – and lead their nearest challengers, Aberdeen, by a whopping 24-point margin.
Rangers, meanwhile, occupy third spot, 30 points behind their Glasgow rivals and find themselves heading to Inverness on Friday night with interim boss Graeme Murty in charge.
However O’Neill, who led Celtic to seven major honours and a Uefa Cup final during five years in charge, believes his old club could ultimately come to rue the lack of a credible challenger when continental competition comes around.
“At this minute, Celtic are just riding the flow and beating the opposition,” the Republic of Ireland boss told TalkSPORT.
“Rangers are not strong – at all. In fact, it is possibly the poorest side I have ever known at Ibrox.
“For Celtic to stay strong, and be strong in Europe, then they need opposition of quality and they need that challenge to come from Rangers. But Celtic are doing brilliantly at the moment.”
