Celtic hero Chris Sutton has branded Rangers a "complete mess" as he reflected on last weekend's Glasgow derby victory and his expectations for his former club this season.
The Hoops won a domestic Double last time out on Brendan Rodgers' return to the Parkhead dugout, but failed to lay a marker down when competing in the Champions League.
Interestingly, Celtic have lost Player of the Year, Matt O'Riley, since then. However, Sutton reckons the acquisition of Arne Engels from Augsburg and bringing loan star, Adam Idah, back to the club have helped put strengthen the personnel available to the Celtic manager.
And the ex-striker noted that the general feeling prior to Celtic's 3-0 Scottish Premiership win over Rangers was more of celebration rather than any trepidation that they were in for a tough afternoon.
That's the reason why Sutton wants his old team to prove their worth on the European stage to receive proper credit for their efforts.
"Celtic were underprepared for Europe’s elite last season with inadequate signings and those key injuries," he wrote in his Daily Record column.
"But looking at them right now, they are in much better shape to cope, even with four of the bodies coming in through the last two days of the window.
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"I'd have preferred earlier, but, crucially, the core is better than 12 months ago and that was evident in the way they swatted Rangers aside last Sunday with ease. Watching the game against Philippe Clement’s side, it is obvious they are in a mess.
"I’d never, ever take the outcome of an Old Firm match for granted. I’ve been involved in enough of them to know that strange things can happen. But, as I made my way into the match last weekend, I sensed a lack of edge amongst the punters.
"I’m not going to go overboard and suggest it had a testimonial feel, but let’s just say there was a relaxed, almost party, atmosphere amongst them before the game had even started. It was as if the fans didn’t have any solitary doubt their heroes were going to win and the ensuing 90 minutes proved them absolutely correct.
"Clement’s team were bang average and, in truth, Rangers are in a complete mess both on and off the park. That’s not just me saying that, it’s a large number of their own Ibrox faithful.
"I got the impression from the reaction of the Celtic fans that beating Rangers this season simply isn't going to be enough for them because their rivals are so bad at the moment. Of course, winning the title is always the bread and butter. The No.1 priority. But, without disrespectful to Aberdeen's 100 per cent start, Rangers are in a state of flux that, unless there’s a transformation in Govan, Celtic are almost going to get no credit for scooping up another title.
"It’s Europe where it’s at and the manager has said himself that the club has done fantastic work and given his squad the strength to make a push for the Champions League play-off round. You can’t replace O’Riley, but signings such as Arne Engels for a club-record fee are a real shot in the arm for the squad and a statement of ambition.
"Celtic’s hierarchy have somehow managed to get their supporters buzzing with their window and still make a profit in the summer market. It says much for their running the club.
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"So, with the pieces in place, the pressure is on Rodgers and his players now to deliver. No-one is silly enough to suggest that there are easy games in the elite competition of Europe. Quite simply, there’s no such thing. But I don’t think anyone could argue with me if I say the draw has been kind to Celtic.
"It has offered some winnable opportunities and none more so than their opening fixture. Slovan Bratislava at home is a perfect game to start and it is also absolutely huge. It’s triumph or disaster.
"Get the job done, you are off and running and can approach the next seven games with real optimism and excitement. Failure to win that and, straight away, with away matches to follow immediately against last season’s Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund and Europa League winners Atalanta, you could be staring down the barrel of a bleak campaign.
"Celtic need to get it right and I’ll be fascinated how Rodgers goes about it in the months ahead. If he can keep everyone fit, he’s got a squad to virtually change an entire team from domestic weekends to European midweeks.
"Obviously, he’s not going to do that, but I’m just saying that he could and it just adds to the feeling that Celtic need to finally do something really positive in the Champions League. It hasn’t been good enough in recent years. Nowhere near it. Rodgers has said himself it needs to improve and he must be privately delighted with the draw."
