FORMER Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann reckons Celtic could battle relegation if they ever played in England’s top flight.
Brendan Rodgers’ side have swept all before them this season on the domestic front and are now only two Cup wins away from the clean sweep.
But ex-German international Hamann is far from impressed by the efforts of the Hoops.
He said: “I wouldn’t make Celtic any more than even money to be relegated.
“They would definitely be in the bottom third and I think they would finish between 15th and 18th.
“The likes of Southampton and Stoke City have so much strength in depth these days that I don’t see them getting into the top 10.
“And that’s despite their excellent efforts against Manchester City and Barcelona this season.”
If Celtic were playing in the Premier League they would receive an additional £100m in television money and would certainlty challenge the top sides in England led by Brendan Rodgers.
Will Rangers challenge Celtic’s dominance next season?
Brendan Rodgers’ rampant Celtic side recently sealed their sixth Scottish Premiership title on the bounce, by thrashing Hearts 5-0 away in Edinburgh. Still yet to be beaten this title winning campaign, the Glasgow giants look set to continue their new era of dominance next season as Rodgers pens a new bumper 4-year-deal.
But can anyone challenge the Hoops on their way to an unprecedented 10 in a row endeavour?
After Rangers started their journey in the dark depths of Scottish football due to calamitous financial management, Celtic had a more or less free run towards the title each year.
Fast forward to Gers’ first season in the top flight and Hoops claimed the title at a canter, with the treble still on if they can get past Glasgow rivals Rangers in the last four of the Scottish Cup.
Rodgers has made Celtic an attractive club to come to. The Northern Irish man prised Moussa Dembele away from European big boys to continue his development in Scotland, and what a stroke of genius it has been. The Frenchman has 32 goals in all competitions this term and his stock is rapidly growing. Another success story has been Scott Sinclair. Like Rodgers, he has revitalised his career in Scotland.
Many of their supporters expected Rangers to compete for the league immediately upon their arrival, but after four years playing outside the top flight and a squad not yet ready for a challenge, disappointment was almost inevitable. However, now under Portuguese Pedro Caixinha, Rangers need a big summer if they are to have a chance of reaching the pinnacle of Scottish football next time around.
However, there remains scars from a period of overspending that sent the club into liquidation. The current Rangers are unlikely to spend as much as Celtic this summer, with Rodgers already talking of smashing the country’s transfer record, so need to scout and invest wisely in clever additions to try and bridge a blatant quality gap.
The most likely outcome next season will be another Hoops title, with closer Glasgow derbies and the Gers reducing the points gap on Celtic rather than sitting on top of the table.
