Celtic PR coup shows Rangers where bragging rights lie and here's why it's now open season on Ibrox side - Hugh Keevins

You could call it a subtle PR coup. Or you could be cynical and describe it as a not-so-subtle wind-up designed to underline which Old Firm side is firmly in possession of the bragging rights.

While Rangers were dealing with disillusioned fans erecting a banner calling for the removal of the club’s board last week, Celtic were giving visible meaning to an old saying. If you’ve got it, flaunt it.

On Tuesday, they paraded the Celtic fan with the £1million jersey, Luke McCowan. And on Wednesday it was the club’s record signing, Arne Engels, who was given the red carpet treatment. All £11m of him. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of multi-million pound one-upmanship, of course. Celtic created the wealth off the back of their success on the park and re-invested the money with the intention of becoming even stronger. But now comes the next part of the equation.

The crowd at Celtic Park on Wednesday night for the Champions League visit of Slovan Bratislava will be loud and proud. Until the match starts.

At that point they will become judge and jury because the support provided the wealth that makes them want to see a return on their money. The customers will become the investors looking for a dividend. Record signings and squad reinforcements still wouldn’t make me put any of my state pension on Celtic winning away from home against Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Dinamo Zagreb or Aston Villa in this season’s Champions League. But maximum points from the home games against Slovan Bratislava, Club Brugge, Young Boys and RB Leipzig shouldn’t be out of the question.

None of those clubs has a budget that could be used in mitigation if Celtic were to fail to beat them. This is the ultimate test of Brendan Rodgers’ assertion