Celtic fans are having a party because Rangers are a mess but my old club has bigger fish to fry – Chris Sutton

Celtic making big-money signings and taking apart a hapless Rangers has brought great joy to their supporters.

In a strange way, it has also heaped the pressure onto Brendan Rodgers and his team for the Champions League. I’ve said all along that Europe is going to be a big barometer this season. And events both on-and-off the park over the past week have only strengthened my gut feeling.

Rodgers didn’t have the right set-up for the group stages last year. He didn’t have enough quality depth at his disposal and injuries hampered him. But, although Matt O’Riley has gone, it is clear he’s far happier with the unit now going into this term’s assault. The Champions League was, of course, meaningful last term, but winning the title through a tricky first campaign back in the hotseat was the major task for Rodgers.

Celtic were underprepared for Europe’s elite last season with inadequate signings and those key injuries. 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.

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