'You're deluding yourself Graeme' Souness makes Celtic icon wince as Rangers excuses blown to smithereens

Former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has strongly rejected the notion Rangers are in position to compete with Celtic as he warned Graeme Souness he's deluding himself.

The Rangers icon has sparked fierce debate after reeling off a series of stats which he insists proves Sunday's 3-0 win for Brendan Rodgers' side in the first derby clash of the season. Celtic have won 12 of the past 13 titles, however, Souness – who also concedes four signings totalling £50m are needed – refuses to throw in the towel in the battle to knock Celtic off their perch.

But O'Neill – visibly mystified when hearing Souness' take – has told the Ibrox legend to rethink his opinions on what the team he loves must do to end the dominance of their ultimate rivals. Speaking to talkSPORT, O'Neill said: "Graeme is deluding himself, absolutely. Because there is a gap. There’s a chasm between them. In the game itself over a 90 minute period, they might actually be close, and if you’re beating one or two nil, then you can make all sorts of thoughts about it in terms of how well that game was close. But actually that game wasn’t close at all. Celtic were far, far better.”

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