Former Rangers centre-half, Gareth McAuley, hasn’t held back in a scathing assessment of the validity of Celtic’s claims to be 9-in-a-row champions after they were handed the Scottish Premiership title last week with the Ibrox side having nearly 25% of the season still to play.
Speaking to the Sunday Life newspaper (via The Daily Record), the now retired McAuley feels that it is a hollow victory and as a collective, Celtic’s dominance won’t be held in the same light as previous 9-in-a-row winners.
So what has McAuley said?
Reflecting on the Hoops week long celebrations after being gifted the 2019/20 title following a dubious SPFL vote, he said:
“I actually feel sorry for the Celtic players. They didn’t win the title on the pitch, they were handed it.
“They have officially been crowned champions, their ninth success in a row, but this triumph will always be tainted and hollow.
“All their hard work, dedication and gutsy performances when they grinded out results will be forgotten. In the record books there will always be an asterisk beside this season’s Championship.
“I know Neil Lennon was on television saying that this title win was the greatest one under his management, but that was all for show and to wind up the Rangers fans watching at home.
“Deep down it will rankle him that his team weren’t able to secure the title on the pitch. Of course, it wasn’t their fault. The Covid-19 pandemic sadly intervened.
“But, as a result, history will not look too kindly on this Celtic nine-in-a-row team and that will hurt the current crop of players. They’ll never be revered in the same light as the great Celtic sides that won nine-in-a row between 1966 and 1974, or the Rangers teams between 1989 and 1997.
“Yet, the Celtic sides of the last nine years, while successful, will be remembered for winning titles when Rangers weren’t in the league and then being handed the title.
“I certainly wouldn’t be celebrating because, as a professional sportsperson, you crave competition, the thrill of the win after a hard-fought battle and knowing you have given everything possible to beat your opponent on a level playing field.”
So is McAuley correct?
The narrative was set by Celtic as soon as football was called to a halt with Neil Lennon’s first press conference being all about how his side “deserved” the title, Rangers deserved to win the league cup final, but football doesn’t work like that.
McAuley hits the nail on the head, of course Celtic’s consistency has to be respected through gritted teeth but there is no way this current crop will be remembered in the same light as any of the previously dominant teams.
The first title – under Lennon’s guidance – was won in the season that Rangers went into administration followed by another four seasons where they languished in the lower leagues, six of their nine titles have been “won” without any competition.
The fact that they are still parading the trophy a week later demonstrates one thing – they doth protest too much – regardless of how much they try to kid themselves, everyone else knows the reality.