Celtic still has a commanding 13-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership this morning.
Brendan Rodgers knew that a win at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon would have meant the Hoops could have won the league at St Johnstone in just over three weeks’ time.
However, after Celtic lost to Rangers, the Hoops boss will need to wait until after the split to find out where and when the league title can be wrapped up.
But it was what Tam McManus said after yesterday’s game that was royally rounded on by Celtic fans as the Hibs pundit made a silly claim about the gap between both Glasgow clubs.
Tam McManus’ ‘evidence’ that the gap between Celtic & Rangers is not as big ‘as people say’
Celtic have been streets ahead of Rangers for much of this century both on and off the park but after the Ibrox clubs second win of the season against the Bhoys, McManus claimed the gap may not be as big as it’s being made out to be.
McManus said on X, “Is the gap between Celtic and Rangers as big as people say? On the evidence of the last 3 Old F-rm games, I would suggest not.
“Celtic will win another treble, but if Rangers can sort the form against the rest, then it will be a lot more competitive next season.
Since 2000, Celtic’s trophy history has seen the Parkhead club record 17 out of 24 Scottish Premiership titles. Narrowing that down to 2012, Celtic has won every single league except one in the COVID season.
The Parkhead clubs’ finances are in another stratosphere, with the Ibrox club racking up loss after loss as Celtic make record profits and record record turnover off the back of years of hard work and keeping their house in order.
So when this type of claim is made about the gap between Celtic and Rangers after just a solitary league fixture win, it’s little wonder the fans responded with apathy.
Celtic fans tell Tam McManus the truth about Rangers being ‘humbled’ this season
The only thing McManus got right with that statement is that Celtic are on the brink of another treble however, after just three wins over Celtic in the last 16 Glasgow Derby’s fans put McManus’ daft claim right.
One Celtic fan replied, “They won a dead rubber. They don’t have a competitive mentality. Just winning the odd big games when not expected to or pressure off is not the mark of champions.”
Another Hoops supporter said, “The gap is 13 points Tam. You judge a team over the season and every game they play, which brings different challenges. Not on specific head-to-head matches. The table speaks for itself.
Another Celtic supporter put McManus’ comments into perspective: “I’ll give you the cup final (which we won), but the last 2 have been played with zero pressure on Rangers.
“The league was already out of sight at New Year and more so yesterday. You might be proven right, but right now, for the 4th season in a row, all it is, is a new manager bounce.”
Finally, this Celtic supporter told McManus just how ‘huge’ the gap is: “13 points, double the goals and a likely treble. The last 2 games don’t have the same edge like it’s neck and neck.
“Last 2 games we’ve been off it, but that’s 2 games a season. Gap’s huge.
