Kenny Dalglish admits he cannot envisage a Celtic title collapse that would hand new Rangers boss Michael Beale what he wants this season.
The new Light Blues gaffer did not rule out a revived title challenge from his side, who sit nine points behind their rivals going in to a crucial second half of the season at Ibrox. The World Cup break has offered the Englishman the chance to reacquaint himself with surroundings at Rangers and will face a day of judgement on December 15 against Hibernian when league action resumes.
But Postecoglou's mantra remains clear, with the Hoops boss already preparing for the consequences of potential big-name exits in the January window by recruiting the likes of Yuki Kobayashi and Alistair Johnson. And it is this 'cohesion' that Liverpool legend Dalglish believes put Celtic firmly in line to retain their crown.
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Writing in his Sunday Post column, Dalglish said: “Regardless of any improvement he gets from the current players, and any new ones he adds next month, I think the title will still stay at Celtic. Ange Postecoglou has that football club in a really good position. There appears to be leadership and cohesion in all the key areas.
“It would require one helluva collapse at Celtic for them not to be crowned champions come May. But Rangers must not throw the towel in. Michael’s aim should be to reduce Celtic’s lead at the top – and really go for a domestic cup.
“Giovanni van Bronckhorst won the Scottish Cup last season, and that was satisfactory. That success came just three days after they had lost the Europa League Final to Eintracht Frankfurt. Just six months later Giovanni was out the door. That shows the expectation levels at Rangers, and the size of the task Michael faces.
“I don’t think it will faze him. He has worked closely with Steven and will have learned so much from him during their time together at Ibrox. It also says plenty about his belief, and what he feels for Rangers, that he has chosen to go back and leave a very settled job at Queens Park Rangers.
“He knocked back the Wolves job only a few weeks ago, so it appears he also favours Rangers over the English Premier League. It all points towards it being an interesting second half of the season once the domestic game starts back again. All eyes will be on Michael and it’s vital he gets off to a winning start at home to Hibernian on December 15 at Ibrox."
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