Celtic and Rangers Prepare for Europa League Challenges Amidst Turmoil
One year ago, as Celtic prepared for their Champions League campaign opener against Slovan Bratislava, manager Brendan Rodgers expressed confidence, stating, "There’s absolutely no doubt this feels like the most ready I’ve been as a Celtic manager going into a Champions League campaign." His assertion was validated by a strong start, culminating in a quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich, despite several ups and downs throughout the season.
However, the promising performance in Munich did not inspire a resurgence for Celtic. Their disappointing exit from the tournament at the hands of Kairat Almaty a month ago serves as a stark reminder of their struggles. Instead of building on last season's near-miss, the Scottish champions find themselves relegated to the Europa League, joining city rivals Rangers in the second-tier competition.
While the Europa League is a familiar setting for Rangers, who reached the quarter-finals last season, both Glasgow clubs have faced significant challenges this year. As they embark on their Europa League campaigns this week, Celtic's supporters have voiced their frustrations, chanting for board accountability ahead of their match against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Rangers' fans are directing their protests towards head coach Russell Martin, who seeks his first league victory this weekend after facing Genk on Thursday.
Celtic 'Growing' Rather Than 'In Crisis' - Rodgers
Reflecting on last season, Rodgers noted he was in a favorable position at the club. A year later, despite appearing to be in good shape—sitting atop the league with no defeats and only one goal conceded—Rodgers has had to dismiss notions of a crisis. The team's recent struggles, including a lackluster transfer window and ongoing protests from supporters regarding the club's leadership, have created unrest at Parkhead.
An emphatic victory over Partick Thistle in the League Cup has slightly improved morale, particularly due to Sebastian Tounekti's impressive performance. However, fan discontent remains high, exacerbated by the embarrassing Champions League exit against Kairat Almaty. The team's lackluster performances in that tie, followed by a disappointing Old Firm derby, have heightened concerns among supporters.
Despite these challenges, Rodgers claims to see "a fluency and rhythm growing" in his squad. Former striker Cillian Sheridan echoed this sentiment, stating that Celtic appeared to be "back to their old selves" against Thistle. "We’re building," Rodgers remarked after securing a semi-final against Rangers. "It’s hard to maintain peak performance over nine months. Given the circumstances surrounding the transfer window, it’s taken time for new players to settle in, but I see progress every day."
Rangers Require 'Tremendous Run' - Bell
While Rodgers noted growth, Russell Martin's focus was on relief following Rangers' 2-0 League Cup victory over Hibernian, which marked only their second win of the domestic season. This victory, according to former goalkeeper Cammy Bell, helped to "dampen down the noise" surrounding Martin, especially after protests before and during the match.
Despite advancing to a semi-final against Celtic, Rangers remain second from bottom in the Premiership without a league win and only three goals scored. Even in their victory over Hibernian, issues in defense were evident, and they were fortunate to avoid conceding early on due to a VAR decision.
Rangers have faced similar struggles in the past, entering European competition amidst domestic difficulties. Last season, they started their campaign in Europe while trailing Celtic in the league, raising questions about their transfer strategy. This season, a win against a struggling Genk could spark the momentum needed to appease their dissatisfied supporters. Bell emphasized the urgency for Martin, stating, "He needs to go on a really good run to turn this around. Winning games consistently is crucial; they can't afford any draws while sitting in 11th place, which is unthinkable. The club has shown support for him, but the pressure is on to deliver results."