Defiant Neil McCann reckons there's still a title race on - and hit out at anyone writing Rangers off at this stage.
Michael Beale inherits a team nine points behind Celtic and needs a minor miracle if he is to claw Ange Postecoglou back in and reclaim the Premiership title in his first season in Glasgow. The manager has refused to get drawn into talk the fightback could be on, instead urging his players to focus on every game as it comes and see where that takes them come the end of the season.
But McCann finds it strange many of his fellow pundits have called the race already. With three derbies still to come and only 15 games played, the former Ibrox winger believes it's too early to call and insists it's still within Rangers ' reach to make a race of it yet. He said on Rangers TV ahead of their friendly with Bayer Leverkusen: "Although it's nine points in the league, I still believe it's do-able. I find it strange because I've heard other guys who have played the game, whether they've got their Celtic hat on or whatever, on different media platforms, and they say the league is done.
"If you're a Rangers player or you're their manager, would you surrender the league now? The answer would be no. So why, suddenly, as a pundit looking from the outside, would you just give the title up?
"I take the point that if Celtic were to take more points and stretch the lead, then it becomes difficult. But while it's still in your own hands - and it is if they go and win the three Old Firms - if they get to the 2nd of January with full points, and Celtic drop a couple, then there's no reason why the challenge can't still be on."
And fellow pundit Alan Hutton agreed as he added: "Nine points isn't such a big difference. There's still three games against Celtic and points will be dropped, so the biggest thing for me is the pressure on the players to perform."
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