‘I could be ‘ranting until this time next week’, Unhappy Kris Boyd summarises the major difference between Celtic and Rangers right now

The first half of the 2024/25 season could not have gone any better for Celtic.

There have been 11 games, 36 goals, ten triumphs, and only one defeat, which came away from home against previous year’s Champions League finalists Dortmund.

Brendan Rodgers’ club is fit, firing, and ready to progress further following a slew of summer additions who are immediately competing for starting eleven positions. Some of them are just warming up to the Celtic task.

Rangers, in contrast, have lurched from crisis to crisis off the pitch while treading water on it. Out of European qualifiers, thumped in the derby and already five points behind in the Scottish Premiership league table.

Position	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Diff	Points
1	Celtic	7	7	0	0	22	1	21	21
2	Aberdeen	7	7	0	0	15	6	9	21
3	Rangers	7	5	1	1	12	4	8	16
4	Motherwell	7	4	1	2	11	8	3	13

Many of their fans are questioning manager Philippe Clement’s direction, and Rangers-leaning commentators like Kris Boyd aren’t happy either.

Everyone can notice the huge gap between the Bhoys and their rivals right now, as the former Ibrox striker confessed in a recent media interview.

Kris Boyd’s verdict on Celtic strength compared to Rangers

Boyd was speaking on The Warm-Up YouTube show with broadcasters Gordon Duncan and Sam North, as well as Falkirk manager John McGlynn, to discuss the season so far.

Regarding Celtic’s dominant start to the season, the analyst stated, “Domestically, when you look at Celtic, they are by far the best team in the league.”

“From behind the scenes as well, that goes a long way. We’ve seen clubs in the past when they’ve had good teams on the pitch, but off the field, there might be something bubbling away in the background that might be about to kick off, and all of a sudden, that transfers onto the pitch.

“I think Celtic right now are in a very good place off and on the pitch. Look at the performances they’ve shown. Even last weekend (against Ross County), it wasn’t their best, but they go to the bench to bring on energy that lifts them and gets them a result.”

When asked about Rangers, Boyd stated he might be ‘ranting until this time next week’, expressing his dissatisfaction with what is occurring at his former club.

After gathering his thoughts, he expressed his dissatisfaction with Celtic’s current opponents.

Boyd stated, “Listen, it’s difficult for me to sit here; in terms of ‘it’s a project,’ I don’t believe Rangers Football Club should ever be a project. That is just me. When I grew up, it was a winning machine. It has been different recently, and Celtic deserves credit for that.”

When asked about the consistency of Celtic’s team from week to week compared to what is going on with Clement’s side, Boyd stated,

“There were a lot of changes over the summer. This has been one of Rangers’ problems for a number of years now.

“I don’t think that the recruitment policy or the players that have been brought in have strengthened the eleven as such.

“Whereas Celtic, they’ve gone and signed Arne Engels and he’s straight in the team, he plays. Even if you go back to Reo Hatate, he’s straight in the team.

“They’re signing players that make the eleven better. That’s the only way you can create a healthy squad that is going to get better.

“I don’t see it at Rangers. I don’t see it. We’re now in October, I couldn’t name Rangers’ best eleven right now, and I don’t think Philippe Clement can either, hence the reason he’s changing players every single week.”

Unity, recruitment and winning mentality behind Celtic dominance

Despite frequently defeating other Scottish teams, they appear to be in a poor situation right now.

Celtic are united in their aims, energising fans, spending huge money, and shopping in transfer markets that Rangers cannot match.

Brendan Rodgers’ champions are once again on fire this season, which should come as no surprise.

The Bhoys are now ‘the winning machine’ that Rangers fans like Boyd remember fondly.

As long as Celtic remain focused, work hard, and don’t become complacent, they should be difficult to beat this season – and maybe for a long time. Others have a lot to catch up on.