Martin O’Neill has provided an unlikely source of defence for Rangers disappointing European exploits this season in a more general observation of the collective Old Firm performance in the Champions League.
The recently concluded group stage of the elite competition saw contrasting performances and reaction toward the efforts of the two Glasgow clubs but ultimately both ended in dejection with respective fourth place finishes and total elimination from Europe.
In his time at Parkhead, O’Neill’s side got to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final in Seville in the same season Alex McLeish’s Rangers won the domestic treble. With his own experiences, he is well placed to compare the ‘then and now’ of competing demands at the Old Firm but he believes that the recent aftermath has been too strong:
“I wouldn’t be phenomenally hard on two sides that have eventually had disappointing results in the Champions League in terms of expectations. Celtic’s would’ve been higher due to their wave of confidence they went in with.”
“It’s only a few months since Rangers contested the Europa League final, that is a big, big achievement. Rangers were one save away from winning the competition.”
“There is a ferocious rush to judgement. Champions League is very difficult to win home or away. It’s a big learning curve for both clubs, maybe that you have to be a bit tighter, even if that means less chances during the game, be more clinical with the chances.”
Evolve
Despite the relative recent high of the Europa League Final, this season’s Champions League campaign has held a mirror up to the current condition of Rangers squad with the reflection being far from impressive.
Turnover and replacement of key players hasn’t happened at the right times leading to the malaise we now have. It also adds a huge uncertainly looking ahead to next season whilst across the city, it appears that things are in a better place in that regard.
Rangers have plenty of work to do with the first team, to say the very least, for the demands of Scotland never mind Europe.