As reported by The Daily Record, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has spoken for the first time about Rangers’ summer spending and what it says about their ambitions in the Scottish Premiership.
What’s the story?
The Light Blues made a massive 11 summer signings with manager Pedro Caixinha getting the opportunity and the backing to stamp his own authority on the squad inherited from Mark Warburton.
Now, ahead a big derby clash next weekend, Celtic boss Rodgers has suggested that means they’re gunning for Celtic’s league title.
As quoted by The Daily Record, Rodgers said:
They spent more than us – and we’re a Champions League club. So that tells you that their idea is to win the league. It’s not to finish third. Not to finish above Aberdeen. It’s to win the league. Pedro obviously came in during the close season and was able to assess and look at different methods that Rangers can try to work and play. And I’m sure they will be reasonably happy with how they have started.
Given Caixinha’s own preference for speaking openly and honestly to the press, we could be set for interesting week of quotes from both sets of managers as their teams prepare to do battle.
Mind games?
With these comments, it appears as if Rodgers is putting subtle pressure on Celtic’s city rivals to show that they are capable of living up to their price tag in next month’s derby. The ‘they’ve spent more than us’ comment is illuminating given the difference in quality between the two sides and the fact the Hoops have had a much stronger start to their season than Rangers, home and abroad.
More dropped points away to Partick Thistle on Friday night has halted Caixinha’s progress again and if the Ibrox side lose at home to Celtic next week they’ll already be a massive eight points adrift.
It’s all set to be another enthralling encounter between the two sides.