Celtic look to continue domestic dominance as Rangers shake up side

Celebrations at home for one, praise across the continent for the other. The strange aspect of the 2021-22 season in respect of Celtic and Rangers was that age-old foes could paint a picture of contentment.

Rangers supporters had cause for frustration as they left the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in May following the Europa League final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, knowing their team may never have a better chance to land a European trophy, but there was pride in an outstanding run. Back in Glasgow, Celtic celebrated a 10th title win in 11 attempts. This has been an era of domestic dominance by Glasgow’s green and white, a point not typically recognised, including by their own support.

As a new season dawns, Rangers are in the midst of necessary revolution. The sales of Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey have fuelled a recruitment drive, seen by seven first-team options – John Souttar, Tom Lawrence, Malik Tillman, Antonio Colak, Rabbi Matondo, Ben Davies and Ridvan Yilmaz – arriving at Ibrox.

There is excitement about this but it should be tempered by the fact Rangers are the club playing catch-up. Ange Postecoglou’s eye-catching progress across the city returned Celtic to the position of being the finest team in Scotland, and the Australian did not need to preside over major summer surgery, with the permanent signings of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota, both successful loanees, the priority ahead of the new season.

Intrigue now surrounds what Giovanni van Bronckhorst can offer by way of a challenge. The Dutchman can provide mitigating circumstance for the events of last season – he arrived mid-season and European exertions took a toll – but the fact remains Rangers failed to successfully defend the Premiership from a