Rangers have coasted to the title this season but if the Rangers stars that got them there think that they can take their foot off the gas next season, they have another thing coming.
Steven Gerrrard’s side’s performance in the Europa League added to the illumination of the two Ukrainian sides means that the winners of the 2021/2022 Champions League will go straight into the group stages of the competition for the first time in over a decade – if the winners of this year’s competition qualify through their domestic league.
Speaking to Football Insider, former Ger, Alan Hutton, reckons that next season will be just as big as the one just past, if not bigger:
“It’ll be one of the biggest seasons for a long, long time, if I’m being honest.
“That kind of Champions League money put into the squad, that can really elevate you from your rival, whoever wins. The investment in the playing squad could be massive.
“In terms of the season, next season, it’s absolutely huge. Rangers and Celtic have done that well in Europe. Obviously Rangers more recently, for the coefficient to kind of build up.
“Getting straight into the Champions League, we used to see that in years going past. It’s obviously changed, but it’s such a big season next season.
“Whoever can win and go straight to the Champions League, the money windfall be huge.”
When you are looking at an immediate windfall of £30-40million without a ball being kicked, the importance of winning next season’s league title is pretty obvious, for perspective, this year’s Europa League run will do well to amass £15m.
Making the group stages of Europe’s elite competition has a huge effect on transfers in both directions, not only in terms of being able to add better quality but also persuading players likes of Alfredo Morelos, Glen Kamara or Borna Barisic that their goals can be met at Ibrox.
Dave King spoke about being self sufficient, we aren’t there yet, but we are so close you can almost touch it.